Polish carriers threaten to block another checkpoint

Representatives of Polish road carriers said on Thursday that they would expand their border protest against Ukraine by blocking another checkpoint for trucks, Shehyni-Medica.

One of the protest organizers, Tomasz Borkowski, told AFP.

Kyiv has not yet been able to reach an agreement in new negotiations with Polish carriers, who have been blocking cargo transportation at three major border crossings for almost two weeks.

Borkowski said that starting Monday they will extend the blockade to the Medyka checkpoint. He noted that the truckers are waiting for a new round of talks with the Polish and Ukrainian governments and are "not satisfied with the speed" of the negotiations.

The multi-day protest caused huge queues on both sides of the border.

The talks, which took place on Thursday at the Dorohusk border crossing, were attended by representatives of the ministries of infrastructure of Ukraine and Poland, as well as the European Commission's transport department, the Ukrainian government said.

"The key demand of the protesters is to return to the permit system. This demand cannot be fulfilled," the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine said.

"The agreement on the liberalization of freight traffic between Ukraine and the EU will be in effect at least until June 30 next year," the ministry added.

The Ministry noted that the Polish protesters "did not accept the proposal" and that "the parties continue to seek a solution."

Author - Olena Madiak, 17/11/2023