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☆ Poland says it will stop arming Ukraine. How did we get here – and what does it mean for the war?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Poland’s decision was both sudden and predictable, coming after months of tensions over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports to a number of European Union countries. “We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a blunt social media statement on Wednesday. But three nations – Poland, Hungary and Slovakia – said they intended to defy the change and keep the restrictions in place. They are particularly suffering in their stronghold rural regions in eastern Poland, where agriculture is an important economic pillar. The urgency of the war to Poland has also slipped over the course of year.

Persons: Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Piotr Muller, CNN Muller, Slovakia –, Alexander Ermochenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ”, Mateusz, Beata Zawrzel, PiS, Vladimir Putin Organizations: London CNN, European Union, NATO, Ukrainian, CNN, EU, European Commission, Reuters, UN, Assembly, Ukraine, Law, Justice, Confederation, Kyiv Locations: Kyiv, Russia, Poland’s, Poland, Ukraine, Polish, United States, Soviet, Warsaw, Slovakia, Hungary, Europe, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, New York, Moscow, Ukrainian, Germany, Ukraine’s

☆ Poland No Longer Arming Ukraine, Says PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is no longer arming Ukraine as it is focusing on building up its own stocks of weapons, the prime minister said on Wednesday, as Warsaw's stance towards Kyiv shifts just weeks before an election. "We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming ourselves with the most modern weapons," Mateusz Morawiecki told Polsat News. Morawiecki's words came after Poland summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to the foreign ministry to protest against comments made by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following Poland's decision to extend the grain ban. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced curbs on grain imports from Ukraine on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend a ban on sales into five EU states, including Romania and Bulgaria. Ukraine's foreign ministry called for calm in the dispute on Wednesday, with a foreign ministry spokesman urging the Poles to "put aside their emotions".

Persons: Ukraine's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Polsat, United Nations General Assembly Kyiv, European Commission, Law and Justice Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Warsaw, Ukrainian, Moscow, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria

☆ Poland no longer arming Ukraine, says PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSAW, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Poland is no longer arming Ukraine as it is focusing on building up its own stocks of weapons, the prime minister said on Wednesday, as Warsaw's stance towards Kyiv shifts just weeks before an election. "We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming ourselves with the most modern weapons," Mateusz Morawiecki told Polsat News. Morawiecki's words came after Poland summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to the foreign ministry to protest against comments made by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following Poland's decision to extend the grain ban. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced curbs on grain imports from Ukraine on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend a ban on sales into five EU states, including Romania and Bulgaria. Ukraine's foreign ministry called for calm in the dispute on Wednesday, with a foreign ministry spokesman urging the Poles to "put aside their emotions".

Persons: Ukraine's, Mateusz Morawiecki, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Alan Charlish, Pawel, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Polsat, United Nations General Assembly Kyiv, European Commission, Law and Justice, Thomson Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Warsaw, Ukrainian, Moscow, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria

Were he to follow through on his promise, it would represent a sea-change for Slovakia, until now a staunch ally of its eastern neighbour Ukraine in its war against Russia. Bratislava has supplied weapons and offered strong political support to Kyiv within the European Union and NATO. Western diplomats and officials in Kyiv also say a small country like Slovakia can only go so far in upending EU and NATO policy. Disinformation, meanwhile, has spread, undermining public support for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of 2022, said Katarina Klingova of think-tank Globsec. The hoax was debunked, but the reaction pointed to the influence that false information surrounding the Ukraine war has among Slovakia's 5.5 million population.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Robert Fico's, Fico, Eleonora Tanacova, Viktor Orban, Orban, Katarina Klingova, Klingova, Andrew Gray, Thomas Balmforth, Mike Collett, White, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, EU, European Union, Russia, Moscow, Hungarian, Progressive, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Banovce nad Bebravou, Slovakia, Russian, Ukraine Brussels, Ukraine, Slovakian, Russia, Bratislava, Kyiv, Crimea, EU, Brussels, Moscow, Donbas, Luhansk, Western, Europe, Hungary, Progressive Slovakia

☆ One of Ukraine's strongest allies says it will no longer supply Kyiv with weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Kacper Pempel | ReutersPoland has said it will no longer supply its neighbor Ukraine with weapons, as a rift over agricultural exports deepens. Jonathan Ernst | ReutersWarsaw has been one of Kyiv's staunchest allies since mutual foe Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Poland has donated a wide range of weaponry to Kyiv, from modern Leopard 2 tanks to Soviet-era fighter jets, as well as delivering military training to Ukraine's armed forces. A Polish farmer during an April 12, 2022 protest against Ukrainian grain imports, which have lowered prices for crops in Poland. In happier times: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki embrace during a joint news briefing on a day of the first anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 24, 2023.

Persons: Kacper Pempel, Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Kamala Harris, Jonathan Ernst, Kyiv's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pawel Jablonski, Attila Husejnow, Yulia Svyridenko, Svyridenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Viacheslav Ratynskyi Organizations: NATO, Reuters, Google, Polska Agencja, Poland's, U.S, White, Washington , D.C, World Trade Organization, United Nations, General Assembly, Kyiv, UN, Assembly, CNBC, EU, Solidarity, European Commission, Slovakia —, WTO, Warsaw, Polish Locations: Europe, France, U.S, Poland, Piskie, Orzysz, Reuters Poland, Ukraine, Kyiv, Warsaw, Washington ,, Reuters Warsaw, Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Polish, Bratislava, Budapest, Ukrainian

☆ US philanthropist Buffett warns against Ukraine 'fatigue'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Howard Buffett, a businessman and philanthropist, speaks during an interview with Reuters, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yurii Kovalenko Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Sept 20 (Reuters) - U.S. businessman and philanthropist Howard Buffett said on Wednesday Western public interest in the war in Ukraine could wane in the coming year, and that he may step up his own support for Ukraine to set an example. Buffett said the idea that Ukraine "fatigue" could set in among the public in the West showed that Kyiv's allies should double down on their support. I think the U.S. and Europe have to step up even more and help Ukraine win this war and put it to end." In some Eastern European states there are signs of more critical views over the extent of foreign military support for Ukraine, and anger among farmers who say Ukrainian food imports hurt their prices.

Persons: Howard Buffett, Yurii, Buffett, Warren Buffett, we're, Tom Balmforth, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, United, Republican, Ukraine, Russia's, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, U.S, United States, Europe, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia

☆ WTA roundup: Madison Keys loses Guadalajara opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Keys, the tournament's fourth seed, received a first-round bye. Navarro converted five of her seven break-point opportunities, while Keys broke serve three times on five chances. Navarro advances to face former U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez of Canada, who knocked out 13th-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 6-4. 1 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia routed the United States' Alycia Parks 6-2, 6-2, and No. The United States' Sofia Kenin eliminated 12th-seeded Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-2, 7-6 (5).

Persons: Madison Keys, Aryna Sabalenka, Mike Segar, Keys, Navarro, Leylah Fernandez, Elise Mertens, Maria Sakkari, Australia's Storm Hunter, Caroline Garcia of France, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Poland's Magdalena Frech, Sofia Kenin, Lucia Bronzetti, Yi Yang, Bronzetti, Yang's, Uchijima, France's, Tatjana Maria of, Alexandra Eala, Daria Saville of, Germany's Anna, Lena Friedsam, Viktoria Hruncakova, Russian Anna Kalinskaya, Viktorija, Yulia Putintseva, Xiyu Wang, Yue Yuan, Zhuoxuan Bai Organizations: Madison, Belarus, Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS, U.S, Australia's Storm, Poland's, United, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Guadalajara, Mexico, Open Akron, U.S, Canada, Belgium, Tunisia, Greece, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Guangzhou, Italy, Taiwan, China, Tatjana Maria of Germany, Philippines, Daria Saville of Australia, Slovakia, Russian, Switzerland, Kazakhstan

☆ Slovakia Struggles With Surge in Illegal Migrants as Election Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"They don't want to live or work here, they are in transit, they rush through as they can," said Jozsef Barta, 70. Although he knew of no criminal incidents involving the migrants, he added: "People are scared to walk in the street." The number of illegal migrants detained in Slovakia has increased ninefold from a year ago to more than 27,000 so far this year, the country's interior ministry said. Hungarian police data also showed a jump in illegal migrant crossings on Hungary's southern border with Serbia in the past weeks, from where they head for Slovakia or Austria. Slovak police patrols are helping their Hungarian colleagues to catch the smugglers but that has proven little deterrent.

Persons: Jozsef Barta, Renata Gregusova, Robert Fico, Fico, Marian Cehelnik, Viktor Orban, Krisztina, Jason Hovet, Jan Lopatka, Gareth Jones Organizations: European Union, Europe's, Police, Reuters, EU Locations: CHLABA, Slovakia, IPOLYDAMASD, Hungary, Chlaba, Germany, Hungarian, Slovak, Europe, Czech Republic, East, Afghanistan, Serbia, Austria, EU, Prague

CNN —Poland said Wednesday it will stop providing weapons to Ukraine amid a growing dispute between the two countries over a temporary ban on Ukrainian grain imports. “We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on social media. The ban on Ukrainian grain was initially put in place earlier this year by several European Union nations, to protect the livelihood of local farmers worried about being undercut by low prices of Ukrainian grain. But three nations – Poland, Hungary and Slovakia – said they intended to defy the change and keep the restrictions in place. Polish President Andrzej Duda also urged greater unity and action on Wednesday at a meeting of the UN Security Council, of which Russia is a permanent member.

Persons: CNN —, Mateusz Morawiecki, Ukraine’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Slovakia –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Gleb Garanich, ” Zelensky’s, Pawel Jablonski, Morawiecki, ” Morawiecki, “, Andrzej Duda, ”, ” Duda Organizations: CNN, Eastern, European Union, EU, UN, Assembly, NATO, Ukrainian, United Nations, Kiel, UN Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Polish, Kyiv, Warsaw, Hungary, Slovakia, Europe, Bilohiria, Moscow, Ukrainian, United States, Soviet, Russia

Polish leaders have compared Ukraine to a drowning person hurting his helper and threatened to expand a ban on food products from the war-torn country. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that EU allies that are prohibiting imports of his nation’s grain are helping Russia. All the EU countries will keep allowing Ukrainian products to move through their borders to world markets. Russia dealt a huge blow by withdrawing in July from a wartime agreement that ensured safe passage for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Ukraine also threatened this week to ban some Polish food items, but appeared to back off that.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “ Alarmingly, they’re, ” Zelenskyy, Pawel, “, Vasyl Zvarych, Jablonski “, Andrzej Duda, Mateusz Morawiecki, ” Morawiecki, Nikolai Denkov, Veselin Toshkov Organizations: Union, EU, World Trade Organization, General, Polish Foreign Ministry, Law, Justice, Croatia, Kyiv, General Assembly, Russia, Confederation, Polsat, Russia Socialist Locations: WARSAW, Poland, Kyiv, Warsaw, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Moscow, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, New York, EU, Ukrainian, Bulgaria, Sofia

☆ Poland summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelenskiy comments
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Alan Charlish | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Poland summoned Kyiv's envoy to the foreign ministry on Wednesday, after comments by Ukraine's president on a ban on grain imports angered the government in Warsaw, which is toughening its stance ahead of October elections. It said Jablonski also told Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych that "putting pressure on Poland in multilateral forums or sending complaints to international tribunals are not appropriate methods of resolving disputes between our countries". He did not name the countries although Kyiv has previously said the complaint targeted Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Polish Agriculture Minister Robert Telus told state-run news agency PAP that he took Kachka's comments as a way of "calming down a certain atmosphere that had been building for two or three days". Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; editing by Christina Fincher, Tomasz Janowski and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Viacheslav, Kyiv's, Ukraine's, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Pawel Jablonski, V, Zelenskiy, Jablonski, Vasyl Zvarych, Florin Barbu, Mateusz Morawiecki, Morawiecki, Facebook Morawiecki, Taras Kachka, Robert Telus, Alan Charlish, Christina Fincher, Tomasz Janowski, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly Kyiv, General, European Commission, Romanian, Trade Organization, Poland's, Polsat, Facebook, Trade, RMF, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Velykomykhailivka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Poland, Warsaw, Russia, Hungary, Slovakia, Moscow, Romania, Bulgaria, Kyiv, Republic of Poland

☆ Explainer: How France aims to discourage buying of Chinese EVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WHY IS FRANCE REVISING ITS EV BONUS ELIGIBILITY RULES? However, in the absence of cheap European-made EVs, a third of all incentives are going to consumers buying EVs made in China, a French finance ministry source said. Because Chinese industry generally relies heavily on coal-generated electricity, the criteria are likely to put the bonus out of Chinese carmakers' reach. But French car buyers will have to wait because Stellantis' (STLAM.MI) Slovakia-made e-C3 city car and Renault's (RENA.PA) France-made R5 are not due to hit the market until 2024. The model is currently one of the best-selling electric car's in France with the Tesla Y, Peugeot's e-208, Fiat's 500e, the Megane eTech and MG4.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, EVs, Emmanuel Macron, Stellantis, MG4, Lorraine Morard, Luca De Meo, Tesla, BYD, Gilles Guillaume, Leigh Thomas, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Company, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, SAIC, P Global, Renault, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany, France, China, Europe, FRANCE, French, Slovakia, Dacia Spring

☆ Analysis-Poland's PiS Faces Far-Right Challenge Over Ukraine Support
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

While Poles' overall attitudes to Ukrainian refugees remain positive and support for Kyiv's war effort is almost unanimous, research shows that critical views are becoming more widespread. SHIFTING VIEWSA survey last month showed that the number of Poles who support allowing refugees from Ukraine in has fallen to 69% from 91% just after the war started. Other research has shown a higher level of aversion to Ukrainian refugees among young women than in other demographics. POLISH PUSHBACKIt is against this political backdrop that PiS decided to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports in response to rising anger in the party's rural heartlands. "When it was necessary, we opened our hearts, we opened our homes for refugees from Ukraine," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.

Persons: Alan Charlish, Marek Strzelecki WARSAW, Slawomir Mentzen, Piotr Muller, CBOS, Anna Brylka, PiS, Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland, Marek Strzelecki, Agnieszka Pikulicka, Justyna, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russia, Justice, Confederation, Reuters, EU, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Warsaw, heartlands, Kyiv, Western

☆ Amid imports dispute, Poland tells Ukraine to remember its help
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks as he attends the military parade on Armed Forces Day, celebrated annually on August 15 to commemorate Poland's victory over the Soviet Union's Red Army in 1920, in Warsaw, Poland, August 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWARSAW, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Ukraine should remember that it receives help from Poland, the Polish president said on Tuesday, amid a deepening dispute between the countries over agricultural imports. The ban was introduced after the countries saw a flood of cheap imports from Ukraine as it struggled to ship grain further afield. Duda said that if Ukraine filed the complaint, Poland would explain the situation before the tribunal. He underscored that the ban regarded imports but not transit of Ukrainian grain.

Persons: Andrzej Duda, Kacper, Duda, Alan Charlish, Karol Badohal, William Maclean, Mark Potter Organizations: Armed Forces, Soviet Union's Red Army, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations General Assembly, European Commission, World Trade Organization, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Warsaw, Poland, Ukraine, New York, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine's Zelenskyy set for awkward encounter with Russians at UN; China urged to pressure Moscow
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine intends to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over their restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural imports, officials said. Ukrainian Trade Representative Taras Kachka told Politico in an interview it was "important to prove that these actions are legally wrong," and that an appeal would be made through the World Trade Organization. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Friday announced import curbs after European Commission-led restrictions on Ukrainian imports into the countries — as well as Romania and Bulgaria — expired. The EU deal allowed products to transit via the countries but required them to be sold elsewhere. Ukraine has agreed to introduce measures intended to prevent a "surge" in EU imports, however the details have not been specified.

Persons: Taras Kachka, Viktor Orban, Saturday, Ľudovít Ódor, — Jenni Reid Organizations: Ukrainian, Politico, World Trade Organization, Reuters, Friday, Commission, EU, Slovakia's Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukrainian, Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, Africa

☆ Ukraine says it will sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over food import bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KYIV, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in the World Trade Organization over bans on Ukrainian agricultural products, Ukrainian officials said on Monday. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the executive European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU neighbours. Kachka told Politico that Ukraine could also impose reciprocal measures on the import of fruit and vegetables from Poland if Warsaw did not drop its additional measures. Ukraine ships grain by train via crossings with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. Ukraine also shipped by rail an additional 1 million tons of oils and oilseeds.

Persons: Taras Kachka, Kachka, Robert Telus, Radoslaw Fogiel, Tom Balmforth, Pavel Polityuk, Anna Wlodarczuk, Anna Pruchnicka, Timothy Organizations: World Trade Organization, Politico, Kyiv, European Union, European Commission, EU, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Warsaw, Bratislava, Budapest

☆ Spain sees Ukraine grain ban by some EU states as illegal, France sees solidarity risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Julia Payne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Spain's agriculture minister said on Monday a unilateral ban by any European Union member state on Ukrainian grain imports seemed illegal, while France said European solidarity was at stake. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU eastern European member states. Romania has become the conduit for more than 60% of Ukrainian grain moved by land and its prime minister said on Monday it may also extend the ban if import requests rise. France's agriculture minister Marc Fesneau criticised the moves, saying they called into question European solidarity. "For solidarity there needs to be unity... We must keep hold of the two elements, otherwise the European project is at risk.

Persons: Viacheslav, Spain's Luis Planas Puchades, Marc Fesneau, Fesneau, Luis Planas Puchades, Julia Payne, Sybille de la, Gareth Jones Organizations: Russian, REUTERS, Rights, Union, European Commission, CAP, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Velykomykhailivka, Dnipropetrovsk region, Rights BRUSSELS, France, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Black, Moscow, Romania

A day later, the European Union also decided not to renew the overall ban on Ukrainian food heading to five member countries. The rising tensions come after Russia halted a U.N.-brokered agreement last month to guarantee safe shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger. These include sunflower, wheat, corn and rapeseed, as well as crude oil, meat, fruits and vegetables, milk, honey and dairy products. “We want increased control and immediate payment of the European measures.”The EU said said “the market distortions” created by Ukrainian grain have disappeared. But farmers in the five member countries still complain that a glut of Ukrainian products is hurting their livelihoods.

Persons: Mitkov, ”, “, Vassil, ___ McGrath Organizations: —, Bulgarian, European Union, Ukraine, Russia’s, National Association of Grain Producers, United Farmers National Association in, Associated Press, ” Locations: PERNIK, Bulgaria, — Farmers, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, Europe, United Farmers National Association in Bulgaria, Pernik, Sofia, Radomir, ” Ukraine, EU, Manavgat, Turkey

☆ EU Urges Poland, Hungary, Slovakia to Be Constructive on Ukraine Grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission called on Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Sunday to be constructive after they unilaterally declared they would continue to ban grain imports from Ukraine despite the Commission's decision to end the ban. What is important right now is that all countries work in the spirit of compromise and engage constructively," a Commission spokeswoman said. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighbouring countries. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary all announced on Friday they would keep their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, European Union, EU, Ukraine Locations: BRUSSELS, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, States, Black

☆ EU urges Poland, Hungary, Slovakia to be constructive on Ukraine grain
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The European Commission called on Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Sunday to be constructive after they unilaterally declared they would continue to ban grain imports from Ukraine despite the Commission's decision to end the ban. What is important right now is that all countries work in the spirit of compromise and engage constructively," a Commission spokeswoman said. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighbouring countries. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary all announced on Friday they would keep their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports despite the Commission's decision.

Persons: Jan Strupczewski, Christina Fincher Organizations: European, European Union, EU, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, States, Black

☆ Czech protesters rally against government's pro-Western policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest demanding the resignation of Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, in Prague, Czech Republic, September 16, 2023. And I do not want a puppet government any more," Raichl said, saying the Czech Republic should veto any attempt by Ukraine to join NATO. Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion. Raichl hailed the nationalist policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model and called for an alliance of Central European countries to counter Brussels. Protester Marcela Hajkova, a mother-of-three, condemned the government's military aid to Ukraine, among other policies.

Persons: Petr Fiala, David W Cerny, Petr, Fiala, Jindrich Raichl, Raichl, Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Marcela Hajkova, Jan Lopatka, David Cerny, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Czech, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine, PRO, ., CTK, NATO, Hungarian, Police, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Prague, Czech Republic, Russian Czech, Moscow, Prague's Wenceslas, Ukraine, Central, Brussels

☆ Three Neighbors of Ukraine Ban Its Grain as E.U. Restrictions Expire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Mike Ives | More About Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hours after the European Union ended a temporary ban on exports of Ukrainian grain and other products to five member nations, three of them — Poland, Hungary and Slovakia — defied the bloc and said they would continue to bar Ukrainian grain from being sold within their borders. As Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain exporters, has struggled to ship its grain because of Russia’s invasion, the European Union has opened up to tariff-free food imports from the country, a move that had the unintended consequence of undercutting prices in several eastern E.U. As part of a deal meant to protect those countries, the European Union allowed some grain to transit through them, but prohibited domestic sales. Brussels’ decision to let that deal expire at midnight on Friday revived an issue that has threatened European Union unity on support for Ukraine. Lawmakers in Bulgaria went in the other direction, agreeing on Thursday to resume imports of Ukrainian agricultural products, The Associated Press reported, saying the ban had cut into tax revenue.

Persons: Slovakia —, Istvan Nagy Organizations: European Union, Brussels, Ukraine, Lawmakers, Associated Press Locations: — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria

☆ Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to defy EU and extend ban on Ukrainian grain imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia will defy the European Union and extend a temporary ban placed on Ukrainian grain imports, in a move likely to anger the bloc’s leadership. On Friday, the EU announced plans to suspend a temporary ban placed on the export of Ukrainian grain to a select number of countries in Eastern Europe. The temporary measure adopted in May saw a ban placed on the imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed to Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia to counter the risk of farmers in these countries being undercut by a bottleneck of cheap Ukrainian grain. “We will extend this ban despite the European Union’s disagreement,” Prime Minister Morawiecki said, according to Polish state news agency PAP. Earlier Friday, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis called on countries to “work along the lines” of the new agreement and “refrain from unilateral measures” on Ukrainian grain imports.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Mateusz Morawiecki, “, Morawiecki, der Leyen, Tusk, Weber, ” Morawiecki, Alexander Ermochenko, Piotr Muller, Viktor Orban, ”, ” Orban, Valdis Dombrovskis Organizations: CNN —, European Union, EU, ”, country’s, Twitter, Slovakia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Facebook Locations: CNN — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Berlin, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Africa, Brussels

☆ Czech Protesters Rally Against Government's Pro-Western Policies
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

And I do not want a puppet government any more," Raichl said, saying the Czech Republic should veto any attempt by Ukraine to join NATO. Under the current government, the Czech Republic has been a close ally of Ukraine, sending tanks, rocket launchers, helicopters, artillery shells and other material to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion. Raichl hailed the nationalist policies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a role model and called for an alliance of Central European countries to counter Brussels. He also voiced support for Slovakia's former Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has adopted a staunchly anti-Western stance ahead of an election on Sept. 30. Protester Marcela Hajkova, a mother-of-three, condemned the government's military aid to Ukraine, among other policies.

Persons: Petr, Fiala, Jindrich Raichl, Raichl, Viktor Orban, Robert Fico, Marcela Hajkova, Jan Lopatka, David Cerny, Helen Popper Organizations: Ukraine, PRO, ., CTK, NATO, Hungarian, Police, Wagner Group Locations: PRAGUE, Russian Czech, Prague, Moscow, Prague's Wenceslas, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Central, Brussels

☆ Poland, Hungary, Slovakia to introduce own bans on Ukraine grains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports on Friday after the European Commission decided not to extend its ban on imports into Ukraine's five EU neighbors. The European Union in May stepped in to prevent individual countries imposing unilateral bans and imposed its own ban on imports into neighboring countries. Under the EU ban, Ukraine was allowed to export through those countries on condition the produce was sold elsewhere. The EU allowed that ban to expire on Friday after Ukraine pledged to take measures to tighten control of exports to neighboring countries. EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said on Friday countries should refrain from unilateral measures against imports of Ukrainian grain, but Poland, Slovakia and Hungary immediately responded by reimposing their own restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports.

Persons: Valdis Dombrovskis, reimposing, Terry Reilly Organizations: European Commission, European Union, EU, Ukraine Locations: Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Black

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