Kiev links farmer protests at Ukrainian-Polish border to upcoming European Parliament elections

MOSCOW. June 6 (Interfax) - European farmer protests of this week are related to the European Parliament elections and target the European Commission's Green Deal, Ukrainian media said, citing acting Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky's statement at the national telethon.

In his opinion, European farmers also want to draw voters' attention to party program sections supporting EU agriculture.

"The protest (of Polish farmers) at our checkpoint (which will last for several days) is part of the European protest campaign. This is all related to the European policy," he said.

The Ukrainian government will stay in touch with Polish colleagues, in particular, at the level of agrarian associations, Vysotsky said.

In his words, representatives of the Ukrainian and Polish agriculture ministries will discuss Ukrainian sugar exports and imports by phone on June 10, while Ukraine has settled that issue. This gives ground for cautious optimism that the protest is truly short-term, is part of the European campaign, and is related to the European Parliament elections, he said.

In his words, representative of the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry also have daily contacts with neighboring countries trade with which, in particular in grain, has been settled - Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. Officials exchange foreign trade information, he said.

"As of now, we have received no messages about any developments in violation of the agreements," Vysotsky said.

He noted that grain exports to the said five countries would be limited until the end of this year instead of July 1, so they do not need to worry.