Kiev expects no sharp rise in prices for borsch vegetables

MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - A sharp increase in prices for borsch products in the spring of 2026 is not expected in Ukraine compared to last year, as only a traditional seasonal rise in prices is possible due to storage costs, Ukrainian media reported, citing Ukrainian Deputy Economy, Environment and Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky as saying on the 1+1 television channel.

"We do not predict record hikes, as it was before with potatoes or onions, this year," he said.

Vegetable production increased 20%-25% last summer and fall, he said. This made it possible to create sufficient reserves for 2026 and reduce dependence on imports.

He also mentioned that during the period of martial law, state regulation of prices for staple food products, including bread, dairy products, butter and sugar, remains in place.

The Economy Ministry said that the peak frosts of recent weeks would not have a critical impact on the harvest. The condition of more than 5 million hectares of winter grain and 1 million hectares of rapeseed is being monitored.

"The preliminary results do not give grounds to talk about large-scale losses. At some farms where there was insufficient snow cover, there may be a need for partial replanting, but there is no question of a nationwide problem," Vysotsky said.

He added that the Economy Ministry would draw final conclusions on the state of winter crops in late February or early March after receiving data from all regions.