2023-11-24 21:20:36
The Ukrainian government has announced that it plans to evacuate Ukrainian truck drivers who have been stuck at the border with Poland for days due to a Polish blockade. At several border crossings there are queues on both sides of the border that are up to 25 kilometers long. Thousands of mostly Ukrainian trucks are stuck on the Polish side.
“We have started collecting data to evacuate our drivers. We no longer have time to agree on compromises,” wrote Serhiy Derkach to the Ministry of Development of Municipalities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine on Facebook. “Now our drivers are suffering in subzero temperatures due to the actions of several people who, with the consent of the local authorities, blocked the border.”
On Thursday, Vice President of the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine Vladimir Balin announced that a second truck driver was killed near the Korchova-Krakovets checkpoint died. He said the incident is currently under investigation. On November 12, the death of another Ukrainian truck driver who had been stuck at the border for three days was announced.
Polish truck drivers, who have been blocking the border crossings with Ukraine since November 6th, want to continue their action until February. Their aim is to draw attention to the damage they believe will be caused by the EU’s decision to relax EU rules for Ukrainian transport companies in 2022. Brussels’ decision was intended to make it easier to transport goods to and from the country invaded by Russia.
Advertisement | Scroll to continue reading
Appeal to Zelensky: Consequences for the economy and national security of Ukraine
Polish truck drivers had announced that trucks transporting military equipment for the Ukrainian army should be exempted. However, reports emerged on Friday that military supplies were also stuck at the border. In one Post on Telegram Independent Ukrainian agency Unian reported, citing volunteers, that supplies reportedly unable to reach Ukraine include fuel, drones and thermal imaging cameras.
At the border in Medyka: These Polish farmers joined the strike. Among other things, they called for a renegotiation of the transport agreements between Ukraine and the European Union.Dominika Zarzycka/imago
In an appeal to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Ukrainian Employers’ Association and the Association of International Freight Forwarders warn of serious consequences for the country’s economy and national security. They accuse Poland of direct interference in Ukraine’s internal affairs and demand a meeting between Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
“According to preliminary calculations, the estimated direct losses to the Ukrainian economy due to the blocking of several checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border already amount to more than 400 million euros,” says a press release. “If we count the indirect losses (fines and penalties against Ukrainian exporters for violating contractual obligations, refusal to sign contracts with Ukrainian business partners for the New Year, etc.), then they are obviously measured in billions of euros.”
1700864293
#Truck #blockade #border #Ukraine #Poland #escalates