Why are many members of the Eastern European Union imposing an embargo on Ukrainian grain?

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest producers of grains and oilseeds. Until recently, most of its exports were sent to regions outside the EU.

However, Russia’s blockade of Black Sea ports means that Ukraine is now cut off from its traditional export routes and forced to rely on other routes such as overland transit routes through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

Problems have arisen repeatedly, first of all in Poland, where instead of being moved through the country to other markets, some grain ended up on the Polish market – thereby driving down prices or increasing storage capacity.

Following protests by many farmers, both Poland and Hungary imposed import bans on Ukrainian grain in mid-April, forcing the EU to impose a temporary import ban for the entire union. This ban remained in force until it ended on September 15.

The EU sees its decision not to renew the sanctions as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine. However, in the EU’s eastern member states, the issue has long assumed a very different significance: it is now a matter of domestic policy and a subject of power struggles with Brussels.

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