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Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk

Photo: Aleksander Kalka / IMAGO

Poland wants to classify border crossings with Ukraine as “critical infrastructure” after renewed protest blockades.

In order to guarantee "that military aid, equipment, ammunition, humanitarian and medical assistance reaches the Ukrainian side without any delays, we will add border crossings with Ukraine [...] to the list of critical infrastructure," said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

After long blockades of the Polish-Ukrainian border by transport companies, Polish farmers launched a new wave of protests on Tuesday and closed around a hundred roads and border crossings.

They are protesting against cheaper products from Ukraine since the EU suspended tariffs on many imports as a result of Russia's war of aggression.

Classifying the border crossings as critical infrastructure results in “a different type of organizational regime,” said Tusk.

However, he did not elaborate on whether protests would still be allowed at the border.

Road sections and railway lines leading to Ukraine would also be added to the list, Tusk added.

Talks about blockades not until March 28th

Kiev then warned that the delays at the border could hinder arms deliveries for Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj spoke of the blockades as a question of "national security" and offered Prime Minister Tusk to meet at the border to discuss the blockades.

Tusk rejected Zelensky's offer.

The Polish Prime Minister told journalists that talks between the two governments were planned for March 28 in Warsaw.

It would be “better to continue these discussions at the technical, organizational level,” he continued.

No further such meeting is planned before this date, but in the meantime there will be negotiations at ministerial level.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said on Platform

"I appreciate the decisions that enable the unhindered delivery of military and humanitarian goods to Ukraine," Kuleba continued.

"Kiev and Warsaw clearly understand who our common enemy is" and tried to "resolve problematic issues."

kim/AFP/Reuters