Ukraine has requested Poland to open additional checkpoints for empty cargo vehicles to ease tensions between Ukrainian and Polish truckers as the blockade continues.
The idea of opening additional points is being discussed with the Polish side, as it would speed up the movement of trucks in both directions. Polish haulers began blocking cargo vehicles at border crossings with Ukraine on November 6 to protest the liberalisation of EU transport rules for Ukrainian trucks. Four checkpoints have been blocked so far, and a fifth is being considered. Thousands of vehicles remain stranded at the crossings. Ukraine is preparing to evacuate stranded drivers as weather conditions worsen. Two Ukrainian truckers have died while waiting at the border, likely due to natural causes. Ukraine has appealed to Warsaw to stop the blockade, citing health risks to stranded drivers, economic fallout, and problems with humanitarian aid deliveries.
Talks with the Polish side on the blockade are scheduled to take place on November 25. Polish truckers have complained that the high number of Ukrainian drivers entering Poland is undercutting local businesses that cannot match cheaper Ukrainian prices.
The importance of goods moving as freely as possible between Poland and Ukraine become paramount after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The movement of goods has served as a lifeline for the war-torn nation, contributing to its resilience, recovery, and sustained defense efforts.
It has been particularly essential for humanitarian aid, but also for Ukraine’s economic stability, which is vital for Ukraine’s ability to finance and sustain its defensive efforts.
Trade with Poland bolstered Ukraine’s economy by facilitating the export of goods, attracting investments, and ensured a degree of financial stability. This economic support was crucial for maintaining a robust defense infrastructure, funding military operations, and sustaining the overall resilience of the nation. Both Ukraine and Poland are now looking for a way to smoothen transport of goods across the border.
