Polish truckers suspend Ukrainian border blockade after agreement

The protest will be suspended until March 1, says Polish Minister Dariusz Klimczak 

Polish truckers have suspended their months-long blockade of the Ukrainian border, marking a breakthrough agreement with the government, announced Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak Tuesday.

Since November, haulers have been staging a blockade, advocating for the reinstatement of restrictions on the entry of their Ukrainian counterparts into the European Union.

The EU had previously lifted the permit system in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Polish road carriers argued that this decision adversely impacted their earnings.

“The protest will be suspended until March 1,” Minister Klimczak informed reporters, standing alongside representatives of the haulers.

“We have an agreement. A long-awaited agreement not just by Polish haulers but also by many entrepreneurs in Poland, by the European Commission, by Ukraine,” he added.

Rafal Mekler, a co-organizer of the protest, echoed the sentiment, revealing the signing of an agreement to halt the border protest temporarily.

“The government is undertaking several commitments within the specific timeframe intended to fulfill the protest demands,” Mekler stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He emphasized this move is not a capitulation but a strategic pause. “If we don’t manage to reach a solution, we will return to the border,” Mekler warned.

Ukraine heavily relies on road transport, particularly with EU member Poland, for its exports and imports, a dependence that intensified following the Russian invasion nearly two years ago.

The agreement brings a temporary respite to the contentious situation, with both sides expressing hope for a lasting resolution before the agreed-upon deadline.

Source: AFP