Poland May Stop Supporting Ukraine in Light of Kiev's Lawsuit With WTO, Minister Says

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Poland's flag - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 20.09.2023
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WARSAW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian Economy Ministry said on Monday that Kiev had filed lawsuits with the WTO against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia because of their ban on the import of Ukrainian products.
Poland may stop supporting Ukraine if public opinion is against it in light of Ukraine's lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against some EU member states, Polish Minister for the European Union Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek said on Wednesday.

"We would like to support Ukraine, but for this to be possible, we must have the support of Polish citizens on this issue. In this regard, if there is no support for such actions from the Poles, it will be difficult for us to continue to support Ukraine as we have done so far," said in an interview with a news agency.

Later on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Warsaw would expand the list of products banned for import from Ukraine if the neighboring nation escalated the row. He added that Poland rejected all lawsuits and other legal proceedings brought against it, while accusing Kiev of failing to understand the degree to which Poland's farming industry was destabilized.
"We were the first to do a lot for Ukraine, so we expect our interests to be understood, and we will protect them resolutely. This means that we, of course, treat the problems on the Ukrainian side with respect, but the interests of our farmers, of the Polish agricultural sector are more important to us," Morawiecki said.
A dump track unloads grain in a granary in the village of Zghurivka, Ukraine, Aug. 9, 2022. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 16.09.2023
These European Countries Plan to Extend Ukrainian Grain Import Ban
In addition, the Polish Foreign Ministry Zbigniew Rau said that it had summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zvarych over remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech at the UN General Assembly.
On Tuesday, Zelensky said that some of Kiev's friends in Europe were "acting out solidarity in a political theater," while at the same time helping to "set the stage for Moscow," commenting on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products after the grain deal.
"On September 20, the Polish Foreign Ministry urgently summoned Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zvarych. The ambassador was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski," the ministry said.
Jablonski voiced "the resolute protest of the Polish side against the remarks made by Ukrainian leader during the general debate of the UN General Assembly yesterday, according to which some EU countries pretend to stand by Ukraine while at the same time indirectly supporting Russia," the ministry added.
Last Friday, the European Commission announced it would lift the ban on duty-free Ukrainian grain imports to five member states neighboring Ukraine, as well as a demand that Kiev introduce export controls. Following the decision, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia announced the unilateral extension of the ban. In response, Kiev threatened to ban the import of certain goods from Poland and Hungary if they failed to lift the grain embargo.
Following the ban on the import of the country's goods, on September 18, Ukraine issued lawsuits against Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.
On Tuesday, the WTO told Sputnik that Kiev has submitted a request to the organization, asking for consultations regarding a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain to Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
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