Poland urges cautious easing of Ukrainian grain embargo while supporting EU ban on Russian entrants

Monika Piątkowska, president of the Polish Grain Board and a Polish senator, said any relaxation of the EU embargo on Ukrainian grain must be handled very carefully to avoid destabilising the domestic market and upsetting farmers. She noted that Poland’s final grain stocks are about 5.5 million tonnes, lower than previously expected because of strong exports, and stressed that Ukraine’s agricultural sector needs to gradually align with EU standards before wider market opening.

The European Commission is preparing a proposal to bar entry to the EU for Russians who have taken part in the war against Ukraine, a measure first put forward by Estonia and supported by Poland. Officials argue the ban is needed for European security, citing the risk posed by “demobilised, radicalised and violent” individuals. In parallel, Poland’s Operational Command has put its air‑defence and radar systems on standby in response to increased Russian long‑range aircraft activity over Ukrainian airspace, describing the steps as preventive measures to protect Polish airspace.