Polish truckers start to block fourth checkpoint on border with Ukraine

MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax) - The movement of trucks is now being blocked on Polish territory on the approach to the Medyka checkpoint, which is adjacent to the Ukrainian checkpoint of Shegini, Ukrainian media reported, quoting the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service.

"So traffic might be disrupted on exit from and entry to Poland. The blockade could continue from November 23 to 26. At the same time, the movement of buses and passenger vehicles shouldn't be impeded," the service said on Telegram.

The Ukrainian State Customs Service said on Telegram later that protesters could block a fifth checkpoint on the Polish border, namely Nizhankovichi-Malhowice.

"According to unconfirmed information, they intend to extend the blockade to the Nizhankovichi-Malhowice checkpoint. There, the electronic queue of trucks leaving Ukraine has grown from 1,300 to 2,000 vehicles," it said.

Rafal Mekler, leader of the Polish truckers blocking the border checkpoints, showed a map with crosses marking the crossings and windows that were still open for trucks leaving Ukraine. "There's still room for escalation," he said on social media.

Two crossings remain open on the Polish border for empty trucks: Nizhankovichi-Malhowice and Ustilug-Zosin.

Meckler said the protesters were demanding a return to the system of permits for Ukrainian haulers in the European Union, one that does not apply to humanitarian and military assistance, as well as separate corridors and a first come, first served basis for the departure of empty trucks with EU license plates at checkpoints.

"We get this on paper and we leave the border immediately. The ball's in Ukraine's court," Meckler said.

The European Commission is facilitating the search for a solution that will enable the blockade of checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border to be lifted, European Commission spokesperson Adalbert Jahnz said on Thursday in Brussels, commenting on the trilateral Poland-Ukraine-European Commission meeting held on Wednesday, at which the issue was discussed.

"The Commission remains in constant contact with the Polish and Ukrainian authorities to facilitate their contacts and discussions. A meeting took place yesterday [in the Ukraine-Poland-European Commission format]. This was not a meeting at the political level, and I not able to go into details about the various contacts that are taking place. Our goal remains for the Polish and Ukrainian authorities to work together to arrive at solutions," he said.

Jahnz said the European Commission was also considering "any potential practical solutions by the authorities to resolve the issues raised by the protesters and resolve this situation at the border."

Traffic through three checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border - Yagodin-Dorohusk, Krakovets-Korchova and Rava Ruska - Hrebenne - has been partially blocked since November 6, due to a protest by Polish carriers. It was originally due to end on December 3, then January 3. The blockade of the Yagodin-Dorohousk crossing point on the Ukrainian-Polish border has been extended until February 1, 2024, Rafal Mekler said on social media on Wednesday.

Ukrainian media said that according to the Ukrainian Restoration Ministry, 20,000 vehicles have been blocked on the Ukrainian-Polish border, and the truck traffic via these crossings has dropped by 20% to 25%.

The situation for the Ukrainian agro-industrial complex, which exports more than 70% of its agricultural products, is becoming dangerous in light of problems with transportation through Poland, Ukrainian First Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky said this week.

Bloomberg has reported that truckers from Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic intended to appeal to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to review the agreement with Ukraine on liberalizing freight transport terms, the so-called visa-free transport.

In their view the agreement, which is valid until June 2024, is seriously disrupting the market and causing irreparable damage to European carriers. They demanded that the agreement's term of validity be reduced or at least that guarantees be provided that it would not be extended.