Polish PM has no intention of closing border with Ukraine, but farmers disagree

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has told farmers' organisations that Poland does not intend to close the border with Ukraine. Instead, Tusk has offered the farmers support from the state budget.

Source: Radio Liberty, citing Andrzej Sobociński, one of the farmers present at the meeting with Tusk

Quote from Sobociński: "The Prime Minister said he would try to convince the European Commission regarding the Green Deal. Regarding the border, he stated that he will not close it."

According to Sobociński, Tusk said he would help purchase excess grain from farmers using government funds and had instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to calculate the amount. 

The farmer added that a final agreement with the government has not been reached, and that the farmers have taken note of Tusk's words and await specific decisions. There is currently no discussion about ending the protest and the border blockade, he said.

Background: 

• Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on 4 March that the border blockade by Polish farmers would cause greater losses to Poland than Ukraine. 
• As of 9 March, 2,300 lorries are waiting in queues at all border crossings with Poland.

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