Dispute over Ukrainian grain. The Minister of Agriculture of Ukraine talked with Robert Telus

Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solski talked by phone with his Polish counterpart Robert Telus, the Ukrainian ministry reported. Politicians discussed the issue of Poland extending the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products. "The ministers agreed to find a solution", the statement said. Further talks are expected to take place in the coming days.

"The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Mykola Solski, held a telephone conversation with his Polish counterpart Robert Telus", the Ukrainian ministry reported on its website.

According to the statement, "the ministers discussed the current situation and Ukraine's proposal to solve it and agreed to find a solution that would take into account the interests of both countries."

"Both sides reaffirmed the close and constructive relationship they have demonstrated on many occasions and agreed to develop further opportunities for export cooperation in the near future," it said.

Mykola Solski talked with Minister of Agriculture of Poland

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine also announced that "further talks will be held in the coming days, during which issues prepared by both sides will be discussed." "The Polish side will also analyze Ukraine's export plan and prepare its proposals," it added.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the head of the ministry, Robert Telus, informed the Ukrainian side that the complaint submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) "damages our relations and should be withdrawn."

"The head of the Polish Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that the statements of Ukrainian politicians quoted in the media also harm our mutual relations," the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development added in the entry.

- However, we are always ready for talks, but the interest of the Polish farmer is always the most important for us. That's why I'm glad that Ukraine finally started talking to us, and not to Germany or the European Commission over our heads, said Robert Telus.

Dispute over the transport of Ukrainian grain

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at the UN General Assembly about grain exports and "friends from Europe". According to commentators, the politician was referring to the decision of Poland, Hungary and Slovakia to extend the embargo on Ukrainian agricultural products.

- We have launched a temporary maritime export corridor from our ports. We are working hard to preserve land routes for grain exports. And it's disturbing how some in Europe, some of our friends in Europe, are acting out solidarity in political theater by making a thriller with grain. It may seem that they are playing their own role, but in fact they are helping to prepare the stage for the Moscow actor, Zelensky said.

Ukraine in the Union

The grain dispute exposes one of the conflicts underlying the Western alliance supporting Ukraine. How long will the EU and other allies of Kyiv be able to continue to support it in the face of political pressure to stimulate the economy and, as in Poland, win voters' votes?

On Tuesday, ministers from the 27 EU capitals will discuss the potential expansion of the bloc to include Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries.

As the full-scale Russian invasion began, EU leaders began to speak loudly about the need to open the EU's doors to Ukraine. Currently, however, the community is increasingly beginning to realize that accepting a country of 40 million people devastated by war involves the need to introduce changes in the Union itself.

The EU is worried about Poland's future

“Cereal is our first test,” said one EU official who asked not to be named.

The maneuvers of Poland's right-wing government, which is seeking re-election next month, have been raising concerns among other EU member states for weeks.

Warsaw, together with the Baltic countries, has taken the lead on tightening European economic sanctions against Russia and more weapons and money for Ukraine. The speed with which Poland "was able to sacrifice Ukrainians for its own good" – in the face of the consequences of Ukraine's support for Polish farmers – is astonishing, said the EU diplomat quoted above.

However, the European Commission itself found itself in a difficult situation. In line with its obligation to maintain the EU single market, the executive may initiate infringement proceedings. This would be an additional signal of support for Kyiv.

Poland's government. All for votes

A European Commission spokesman said on Monday that the executive body was still analyzing bans on Ukrainian grain imports announced by three member states.

However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must consider the impact of such a move on the parliamentary elections in Poland on October 15. The ruling Law and Justice party is trying to maintain the support of the rural electorate in order to win an unprecedented third term.

“It looks really bad for everyone, and the Commission did not help when it did not respond more severely to this flagrant breach of trade rules,” one diplomat said before Friday's decision. — Now she's stuck on shaky ground.