Ukraine Calls on EU to Deploy Monitoring Mission on Border with Poland

Ukraine has officially initiated the creation of a monitoring group by the European Union on the border with Poland, where Polish carriers have been blocking key checkpoints for more than two weeks. Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Serhiy Derkach posted this on Facebook.

According to him, the group should be deployed on the EU side of the border. Ukraine proposes that European colleagues officially record the situation at the checkpoints: whether dangerous goods are allowed through, how humanitarian aid crosses the border, and most importantly, what conditions Ukrainian drivers have been living in for more than two weeks. "We have sent an official letter with this proposal. We are waiting for a response," Derkach wrote.

For its part, the Ministry of Infrastructure has started collecting data for the evacuation of Ukrainian drivers. "We have already run out of time to agree on compromises. Now our drivers are suffering in sub-zero temperatures from the actions of a few people who have blocked the border with the consent of local authorities," the minister continued.

He said that the Ukrainian side has raised the issue of food, ambulances, fire trucks, and proper sanitary conditions several times "at the working and official levels", but this is not the case. Moreover, the local authorities have agreed with the Polish carriers to continue the protest.

Derkach assured that Ukraine will take out all drivers who express such a desire.

"Over the past three weeks, the issue of the blockade has been raised at all possible levels, dozens of letters and meetings. We have proposed a number of compromises, and the Polish government and the European Commission are aware of them. But it is possible to agree on something only if there is a desire to negotiate, not just a desire to block the border," the Ukrainian minister added.

Since 6 November, Polish carriers have been blocking several border crossings with Ukraine, demanding the return of the system of issuing permits for Ukrainian carriers to work in the EU.

As a result, a huge queue of Ukrainian trucks has formed on the border with Poland. Two Ukrainian drivers have already died in this queue.

As The Gaze previously reported, the Polish participants in the blockade of the border crossing points with Ukraine announced their intention to extend the protest for another month - until 1 February 2024.

The organisers of the protest applied for an extension of the border blockade at the Yagodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint until 1 February, and the local authorities approved it.