The protests of Polish farmers proved that Ukrainian grain is not needed in the EU at all. Therefore, thinks economist Oleksiy Kush, we need to change our model — and for now, we and our agricultural products are sent along the usual route, and Africa and Asia.
The key problem in our relations with Poland is that our political elites do not understand a simple truth:
The raw, agrarian model of Ukraine's economy "does not fit" in the EU.
No one needs it there, moreover, for countries like Poland, this model carries a direct economic danger, which can lead to a significant social crisis in a number of European countries.
Moreover, our political elites not only do not understand this and do nothing to change the commodity economic paradigm, but also try with all their might to "turn the situation around" by forcing the Poles to "love us the way we are".
Those of our experts who are constantly looking for some "Russian trace" in the farmers' movement are deeply mistaken.
A classic example of the fallacy of this view is a recent interview with Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski.
Bloomberg published an article in which they noted:
“The previous government in Warsaw imposed a ban on the import of Ukrainian grain last year to appease farmers ahead of parliamentary elections, which it ultimately lost in October. The current administration has left the restrictions in place, allowing only transit to ports on the Baltic Sea and other EU countries."
Sikorsky said the situation has now changed and Ukraine can once again send its grain through the Black Sea, whereas before the ban Poland was the destination for two-thirds of the grain crossing the EU.
"Polish farmers cannot bear the burden of all EU solidarity with Ukraine," said Sikorsky.
The fact that Ukraine was "sent" to the Black Sea means one thing - we were sent to our traditional sales markets: Asia and Africa.
If we want to open the way to the EU, we have to change: at least export biofuel instead of corn, which the Poles dump from wagons onto the ground.
Or vegetable protein instead of grain.
