Ukraine's trade visa-free access to EU will end soon: Tusk reveals the date
Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland (Photo: Getty Images)
The European Union has decided not to extend the visa-free trade regime with Ukraine. It will expire on June 5, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, according to RMF24.
Tusk said that shortly after taking office as Prime Minister, he launched a campaign aimed at persuading the European Union to abandon the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) mechanism, which provides for trade liberalization with Ukraine.
According to him, the Polish government wants to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, but not at the expense of Polish producers, especially farmers.
"And we succeeded — as of June 5, this mechanism will no longer be in place. We are returning to the pre-war border rules," said the Polish Prime Minister.
Tusk added that the government will protect Poland's economic interests, even if they come "into conflict" with those of Ukraine.
"I have no problem with that, because no one can accuse me of being anti-Ukrainian when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war," he stated.
Notably, the trade visa-free regime with Ukraine sparked massive protests by Polish farmers last year. They blocked the Ukrainian border in response.
Trade visa-free regime with Ukraine
The European Union introduced the trade visa-free regime with Ukraine following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
This mechanism allows all Ukrainian goods to enter EU countries duty-free.
Recently, the European Parliament voted to extend the trade visa-free regime for another three years — but only for steel and iron products.
