DISINFO: Ukrainian grain further increases the divide between Old Europe-Eastern Europe
SUMMARY
On April 15, Poland temporarily banned the supply of Ukrainian grain, sugar, dairy products, seeds, flax and hemp, fruits, vegetables, wine, meat, and bee products. By April 17, the embargo was approved by Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, and later by Bulgaria.
[...] Brussels categorically opposed the grain restrictions imposed by Poland.
We have an increase in the split along the Old Europe-Eastern Europe line, the need to find 100-200 million euros to compensate farmers, a decrease in the inflow of foreign currency to Ukraine, and local political crises in Poland and Romania.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU disintegration, challenging the EU unity, aiming to deflect Russia’s responsibility for the growing food crisis. This false allegation goes in line with a wider pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign aiming to blame Western countries for a global food crisis which is aggravated and engineered by Russia as part of its unjustified aggression against Ukraine.
The EU is working on solutions together with Ukraine and concerned neighbour EU Member States that address the current situation, while making sure to continue to support Ukraine and preserve its capabilities to export its grains. These exports are critical to feeding the world and keeping food prices down, in the face of the huge challenges posed by the Russian invasion.
To better understand the situation when preparing the first support package, the European Commission invited the concerned Member States to provide a detailed assessment of the impact of increased imports from Ukraine on farmers’ normal farming operations, taking into account, among others, the supply availabilities and production value potentially affected. The European Commission analysed the information received and proposed support to the most affected Member States from the EU agricultural reserve funds.
On 21 April, 2023, Romania and Poland lifted the ban on Ukrainian grain while awaiting the EU decision.
It’s important to recall that the reason for the issue is Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine which agricultural export used to feed 400 million people around the world, including in some countries with food supply vulnerabilities. Russia stopping this war is the best way to improve the critical global food security situation.
It is Russia cynically trying to suffocate the Ukrainian economy incl. the food export via the seaborne export through the Black Sea with Russian attacks and blockade of certain harbours, agriculture infrastructure, farming land, and machinery. This has pushed a part of Ukraine’s export onto roads and rail, where the EU Solidarity Lanes have been crucial to secure the transport of Ukrainian food to the world market since May 2022. Russia’s war is twisting normal business flows and seeking to create wedges between states.
The EU is taking further actions to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain exports via the Solidarity Lanes so that they reach those countries in need. This includes continued work on lowering overall logistics costs, better-coordinating transit, and enhancing infrastructure in ports, border interconnections, and other conduits under the EU Solidarity Lanes, as well as supporting the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).