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