rfi: Talks were underway on Thursday in Warsaw between the governments of Poland and Ukraine as part of an attempt to defuse a row over grain imports that has caused mass protests by farmers throughout the European Union.
Farmers throughout the 27-nation bloc have been protesting to demand the re-imposition of customs duties on agricultural imports from Ukraine that were waived after Russia's invasion in 2022.
They say Ukraine's farmers are flooding Europe with cheap imports that leave them unable to compete.
"It is difficult to expect any breakthrough after these talks, any specific agreement, for example on agricultural issues," the head of the prime minister's office Jan Grabiec told state news agency PAP.
"We are still in dialogue and both sides are not fully satisfied."
Poland has been eyeing a licensing deal for agricultural trade with Ukraine similar to one agreed with Kyiv by Romania and Bulgaria.
On Wednesday, Poland's Agriculture Minister, Czeslaw Siekierski, said talks were continuing about a system of licensing exports.
However, he added, there were differences over the range of products that would be covered.
Ambassadors from EU countries reached a revised deal on Wednesday to extend tariff-free food imports from Ukraine until June 2025.
The onus for a new deal fell on Belgium, the current holder of the En Council's rotating presidency.
In World
-
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Ahmed Al-Shara, leader of Syria's new administration, declared a "new era" for Syria during a joint press conference following talks in Damascus. Fidan emphasized that the darkest times for Syria were over, promising a brighter future built on inclusivity and the determination of Syrians.
-
A new Gallup poll reveals a growing desire among Americans for a swift resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, which has now exceeded two years in duration. Half of the respondents expressed support for ending the conflict quickly, even if it means Ukraine does not regain all its lost territories—a 7-point increase from March 2024. Support for rapid resolution had previously held steady at 43% since October 2023.
-
Senior U.S. diplomats met on Friday with Syria's new de facto ruler, Ahmad al-Sharaa, in Damascus, holding what was described as a "good" and "very productive" meeting to discuss the country’s political transition. The U.S. delegation also announced the withdrawal of a $10 million bounty previously placed on al-Sharaa’s head.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday suggested a missile 'duel' with the United States that would show how Russia's new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile could defeat any U.S. missile defence system.
Leave a review