Ukraine and Poland are working on a constructive solution to unblock the border and take into account the interests of farmers in both countries, Deputy Minister for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture and Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka has said.
"Four hours of very intense negotiations with Minister of Development and Technology of Poland Krzysztof Hetman and Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierksi. One of the most intense and intensive meetings in my professional life. We were able to find common ground and are working on a constructive solution to unblock the border and take into account the interests of farmers in Poland and Ukraine. It is not easy, but it is possible," he wrote on Facebook.
Kachka noted that the approaches proposed by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal "are important for building a possible understanding".
"During the four hours of negotiations, the option of closing the border was not mentioned. As Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said quite clearly, this would be a very painful decision for our economies. To stop even for a day the trade, which is worth $11.7 billion annually (and even more according to Polish statistics), is too painful. Not to mention transit, which is vital for Ukraine," Kachka said.
He added that he could not share details yet, but added that "a constructive solution is possible".
"Therefore, I encourage everyone to read Donald Tusk's statement fully and carefully - with all the elements of rhetoric and punctuation. News headlines can be misleading. At this moment, more than ever, let's stay calm and work hard," Kachka said.
Earlier, Polish Radio RMF quoted Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as saying that Warsaw was negotiating with Kyiv on a temporary ban on the movement of goods across the border. Commenting on the prospects of the meeting with protesting farmers, Tusk said: "I am not the prime minister for Poland to leave the EU or to block the border with Ukraine." He also stressed that this temporary measure "would be painful for both sides".