Zelensky warns EU neighbors — RT World News
Ukrainian leader says he wants to make “European unity” work
kyiv will react if EU countries decide to impose unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian grain, contrary to decisions taken in Brussels, President Vladimir Zelensky said.
On Friday, the European Commission chose not to extend the ban on deliveries of Ukrainian wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower seeds to Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia . The restrictions, introduced in May, expired on September 15.
While Bulgarian authorities supported the move, the other four EU member states said they would now introduce restrictions at national level due to the need to protect their agricultural sectors.
Zelensky wrote on Telegram that he spoke on the phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, telling her that he “deeply grateful” to her for “keep your word and maintain the rules of the free market”.
Brussels’ decision not to extend the ban “is an example of true unity and trust between Ukraine and the EU. Europe always wins when the rules work and the treaties are respected.” he said.
However, the Ukrainian leader added that “It is now important (to ensure) that European unity also functions bilaterally; that the neighbors support Ukraine” amid its conflict with Russia.
If Poland, Hungary, Romania or Slovakia take decisions “in case of violation of EU law, Ukraine will react in a civilized manner” Zelensky warned, without specifying the countermeasures that kyiv could resort to to protect its interests.
After learning of the European Commission’s decision on Friday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Warsaw “extend the ban on Ukrainian grain. We will not listen to Berlin, von der Leyen… because it is in the interest of Polish farmers.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced a similar plan, saying he was preparing to “a serious fight in Brussels” on the question of cereals.
LEARN MORE:
EU country threatens to permanently ban Ukrainian grains
Warsaw and Budapest have vigorously resisted Ukrainian grain deliveries, despite quite opposing views on the conflict between Moscow and kyiv. Poland has been one of Ukraine’s main supporters in the EU, supplying weapons to the country and insisting on increasingly tough measures against Russia, while Hungarian authorities have consistently criticized the sanctions of the bloc against Moscow as ineffective and insist on a diplomatic solution to resolve this problem. crisis.
RT
