Poland has decided to include border crossings with Ukraine, certain sections of roads and railways in the list of critical infrastructure.
This will be a guarantee that, despite the protests of Polish farmers, military and humanitarian aid will arrive in Ukraine "without any delays," said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"This is a matter of the next few hours," Tusk said about the Polish government's decision.
He added that he would "ask for understanding" regarding this decision, probably alluding to the fact that Polish farmers were not consulted beforehand.
Such a step can ease the situation for Ukraine with the introduction of military and humanitarian goods. However, it is still unclear whether it will completely solve the problem of blocking roads.
"I will not stop trying to protect the interests of Polish farmers. We constantly talk about it both with the Ukrainian side and with the European Commission. Aid to Ukraine also has a commercial and financial dimension. But (from this dimension - Ed.) Poland and Polish agricultural producers lose the most," said Tusk.
The evening before, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the government to come to the Polish-Ukrainian border by February 24, where he also invited Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
Zelensky addressed "to everyone who remembers" the meaning of the word "solidarity":
"And I am asking you, Donald, Mr. Prime Minister, to come to the border as well. Andrzej, Mr. President, I am asking you to support this dialogue. This is national security," Zelenskyy said.
Zelensky said that he will also arrive at the border with Poland and expects that a representative of the European Commission will also be at the place of negotiations.
"This is a fundamental interest of the European Union. Therefore, Ukraine appeals to the European Commission to have a representative of the European Commission participate in the meeting. Enough of Moscow on our lands. Enough of misunderstandings," the president said.
Duda supported the idea, but Tusk doubts that it would make sense.
"There is no need for such bright solidarity actions. I am sure that in this difficult time of war, neither side needs to convince us that we are together. Ukraine can count on our full support," Tusk said.
The Polish Prime Minister added that when he was in Kyiv and met with Zelenskyi and Prime Minister Shmyhal, they agreed that the meeting of both governments would be held in Warsaw on March 28, and he would like to stick to this plan.
Protests have become tougher
From February 20, new farmers' protests began all over Poland, and they took on a more radical character. Farmers say they are losing money and business because of the alleged influx of cheap Ukrainian grain into the markets.
Now the Poles are boycotting not only border roads for trucks, but also railways.
It got to the point that protesters demonstratively scattered Ukrainian grain on the road, and also obstructed the movement of passenger buses.
On one of the tractors of Polish farmers there was also a poster with a call to Putin to "bring order to Ukraine, Brussels" and Polish government officials.
PHOTO AUTHOR, REUTERS Photo caption, The same scandalous poster
This man was detained, the Polish press wrote. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland announced the possible influence of Russian agents on the appearance of anti-Ukrainian and pro-Putin slogans at farmers' protests.
Warsaw said that such incidents "weaken the negotiating position" of Poland.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian State Border Service notes that the Poles continue to block six directions on the border with Ukraine, and 2,450 trucks are standing in queues.
The biggest queues are in front of the checkpoints "Krakivets", "Rava-Ruska" and "Shegina", border guards say.
