Ukrainian officials issue ultimatum

"Today our Prime Minister (Denys Shmyhal), ministers in charge of export, import, trade, logistics, infrastructure, agriculture, along with the heads of Border Guard, are all present at the Polish border," Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday, as quoted by the Ukrainian news agency, Ukrinform.

The Ukrainian President added that it was the Poles' personal decision to be present, emphasising that "we cannot remain here tomorrow. Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of our struggle, two years of war." Zelensky also expressed his gratitude to the Polish people for all they have done since Russia’s invasion.

"Maintaining our relations, as well as upholding the truth, is of great importance to us. It's a little beyond European law when Ukrainian grain is unable to reach the Polish market at the request of the Polish side. We've found new ways around this, but when it comes to transit, it's more complicated. We're prepared to do everything we can to resolve this issue," emphasised the president.

Shortly afterwards, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who had just arrived at the shared border, announced that there had not been a meeting with the Polish government. Shmyhal outlined a five-step plan to lift the blockade. One of these steps was establishing a tripartite staff involving Poland, Ukraine, and the European Commission, led by both countries' agriculture ministers and an EC representative. Ukrainian and Polish farmer organisations would also participate in its operations.

Prime Minister Shmyhal warned that if the issue of lifting the blockade isn't settled by 28 March, Ukraine could impose responsive measures at the border crossings. He stated that 9,000 lorries are currently queued on both sides of the border.

In a press conference on Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded to President Zelensky's appeal for a bilateral government meeting at the shared border before Saturday, the twelfth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He reassured his understanding of the situation. He also indicated that during his visit to Kiev, an agreement was made to resume meetings between the full Polish and Ukrainian governments.

"I agreed with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and with the knowledge of President Volodymyr Zelensky, that the meeting of both governments will occur in Warsaw on 28 March. I hope that by then, the technical talks at ministerial and deputy-ministerial levels will have progressed to a point where this meeting will be notably useful, particularly with regard to border issues and our trade exchange," expressed Tusk.

Across Poland, protests from farmers who are blocking roads, motorways, and border crossings with Ukraine are being reported. The farmers are contesting the surge of Ukrainian goods and European Union policies relating to the so-called Green Deal.

Tusk announced on Thursday that in order to fully ensure that military and humanitarian aid is delivered to Ukraine without delay, specific border crossings with Ukraine and certain road and rail sections will be classified as critical infrastructure.