Ukraine says Polish truckers protest jeopardizes its agricultural exports - government

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Polish truck drivers have blocked three checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border for the second day, which creates risks for agricultural exports from Ukraine, Ukrainian media reported, citing the country's Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Ministry.

As of Friday, Ukraine had not received any official demands from the Polish truckers, the ministry said, adding that, according to media reports and information on social media, their demands include cancelling visa-free entry for Ukrainian drivers and reinstating the permits that Ukrainian truckers previously had to obtain to work in the European Union; dedicated lanes and separate queues for trucks with EU license numbers and empty ones; and access to the Shlyakh system that allows Ukrainians of military age to legally leave the country if they are long-haul truckers or volunteers.

The Polish truckers are blocking the Korczowa-Krakovets, Hrebenne-Rava Ruska and Dorohusk-Jagodzin checkpoints, truck traffic through which has been snarled since November 6. The protests are expected to continue until December 3, Ukraine's State Customs Service said.

The Infrastructure Development Ministry said it is in contact with the Polish embassy and Infrastructure Ministry, the European Commission, Ukrainian truckers and border services in an effort to resolve the situation.

"Our position is simple: blocking the border hurts the interests of both countries and creates risks for the functioning of the 'solidarity lanes' initiative. Given an official and reasoned position from our Polish partners, we are open to constructive dialog. It is important to us that the interests of truckers from both sides be taken into account," the ministry said.

Ukraine's Customs Service said that at the Dorohusk-Jagodzin checkpoint the protesters said they plan to let one truck through in both directions per hour. The restrictions will not apply to buses or trucks carrying humanitarian aid, perishables, live animals or hazardous freight (tanks with fuel) in both directions. At Hrebenne-Rava Ruska, truck traffic is being blocked on the Polish side and partly for vehicles heading to Ukraine, while at Korczowa-Krakovets about ten trucks have blocked traffic entering Poland on the Polish side.

The blockade is a "painful blow" to Ukraine that jeopardizes the EU's so-called solidarity lanes for Ukrainian grain shipments to third countries, Ukraine's ambassador to Poland, Vasily Zvarych said on social media, urging an end to the border blockade.