“Ukraine is like a drowning man, it can drag us into the depths”: Polish President Andrzej Duda

On Tuesday (19 September), Polish President Andrzej Duda likened Ukraine to a drowning man whereas defending his authorities’s determination to impose a grain embargo on Ukrainian agricultural merchandise. During a media briefing exterior the UN headquarters in New York, he focused Ukraine for going in opposition to them on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and difficult their determination to ban grain imports from Kyiv.  

“We are dealing a bit with a drowning person. Everyone who has ever taken part in rescuing a drowning person knows that a drowning person is extremely dangerous; and that he can drag you to the depths. He has unimaginable strength due to personal fear, the influence of adrenaline, and perhaps “simply drown the rescuer,” the Polish President was quoted saying in Polish media outlet PAP.

The Polish President asserted that it has to first defend its personal curiosity in any other case if Ukraine (drowning man) causes hurt to it, they’d not have the ability to assist it.

Duda additional stated, “It is a bit like the situation between Poland and Ukraine. Ukraine is under Russian attack, undoubtedly in a very difficult situation, Ukraine is grasping at everything it can. Can you blame it for that? Of course, you can complain. Should we act to protect ourselves from the drowning person causing harm? Of course, we must act to protect ourselves from harm being done to us, because if the drowning person causes harm and drowns us, he will not get help. So we have to take care of our interests and we will do it effectively and decisively.”

EU solidarity?

Poland’s Duda on Ukraine grain:
“Should we act to guard ourselves from being harmed by a drowning man? Of course we should act to guard ourselves from a drowning man inflicting us hurt, as a result of if the drowning man causes us hurt and drowns us, he gained’t get any… pic.twitter.com/VRrHjPRhj9

— the Lemniscat (@theLemniscat) September 20, 2023

Going forward, he reminded Ukraine that it has been receiving assist from Warsaw and that their nation serves as a transit nation. He additionally highlighted that the ban doesn’t prohibit the transit of Ukrainian grain. He famous that Ukraine ought to keep in mind that it receives assist from Poland. 

He stated, “It would be good for Ukraine to remember that it receives help from us and to remember that we are also a transit country to Ukraine.”

He added, “There are business circles that have interests in Ukraine and would like to sell grain as quickly as possible at the lowest possible cost. We have to defend ourselves against it.” 

Regarding his assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he claimed that regardless of his plans, the 2 couldn’t meet due to “organisational reasons”. 

He stated that the scheduled speeches by numerous leaders at UNGA bought delayed which impacted their plans. However, he stated that it was doable that he would meet Zelensky later.

On the problem of Ukraine’s transfer to sue their nation on the WTO, Duda stated that if Ukraine filed the criticism, Poland would clarify the state of affairs earlier than the tribunal.

The backdrop of the continuing Polish-Ukraine dispute

In May, the European Union imposed a restriction on Ukrainian grain. This was accomplished to permit Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to ban the home gross sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds. However, this ban nonetheless permitted the transit of such cargoes for export elsewhere. 

On 15 September, the restrictions over the Ukrainian grains expired and the European Commission introduced that it will not lengthen restrictions on imports of agricultural merchandise from Ukraine. However, on its half, Kyiv agreed that it will take measures to restrict imports from its aspect and never flood the neighbouring international locations’ markets.

Nevertheless, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia went forward and imposed unilateral restrictions on the import of Ukrainian agriculture merchandise, a grain embargo. Additionally, Poland categorically asserted that their restrictions will stay in place indefinitely.  

Regarding the Polish-Ukraine dispute, media company Politico reported that Kyiv will sue Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia over their refusal to drop a ban on Ukrainian agricultural merchandise based mostly on their interview with Ukraine’s Trade Representative Taras Kachka. 

Kachka stated, “These arbitrary prohibitions are ridiculous.”

On Monday (18 September), Ukraine’s financial system minister, Yulia Svyrydenko stated that her nation had filed a criticism with the WTO in opposition to the three international locations over the ban.

Following the event, a WTO spokesperson confirmed that Kyiv had taken step one in a commerce dispute by submitting a criticism to the worldwide commerce physique, Reuters reported.

Ukraine’s determination to sue European nations a few of that are its ardent supporters within the ongoing battle in opposition to Russia, didn’t go nicely with Polish leaders who hinted that Poland might cease serving to Ukraine if Polish residents don’t help its transfer to help Ukraine, hinting that Ukraine’s WTO transfer had brought about angst in Poland. 

Hinting about its dissatisfaction, the federal government stated that Poland will seemingly lower monetary help to the million Ukrainian refugees it’s internet hosting. 

On Tuesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk informed Polish media PAP that the Polish authorities is “unyielding” on grain embargo from Ukraine citing the necessity to defend the pursuits of Polish farmers. 

According to him, the steps taken by Ukraine have a damaging impression on mutual relations. He additionally asserted that Ukraine’s transfer undermined the sympathy for Ukraine that Poles have. 

He famous, “Ukraine’s actions make no impression on us… but they do make a certain impression on Polish public opinion. This can be seen in the polls, in the level of public support for continued support for Ukraine. And this harms Ukraine itself.”

Poland could cease supporting Ukraine amid a battle over grain provides, Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Senk stated in an interview with PAP.

“We wish to proceed to help Ukraine, however for this we’d like the approval of the Poles. If he doesn’t exist, we gained’t be… pic.twitter.com/e8MaqnzPHy

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) September 20, 2023

He stated, “We would like to continue supporting Ukraine, but, for this to be possible, we must have the support of Poles in this matter. If we don’t have it, it will be difficult for us to continue supporting Ukraine in the same way as we have been doing so far.”