The Hungarian authorities have introduced a ban on the import of a number of Ukrainian goods in order to protect local farmers, Hungarian Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy said in an interview with Vilaggazdasag magazine.
“Brussels did not listen to the request of Eastern European farmers for help, did not extend the moratorium and even left it to Ukraine to decide what crop and in what quantity it wants to export to Hungary or other border countries,” the minister noted.
He called this unacceptable and explained the introduction of restrictions as a response to the actions of the European Commission (EC). According to Nagy, if the ban had not been introduced, it would have led to an uncontrollable situation regarding the supply of Ukrainian grain “in the next few days.”
On September 15, the EC lifted restrictions on the import of Ukrainian grain to Eastern European countries. Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the country would extend the ban regardless of the decision of the European Commission.
On the same day, Hungary introduced a ban on the import of 24 types of agricultural products from Ukraine. Nagy noted that the authorities protect the interests of farmers. In addition to Hungary, the embargo was extended by several other countries – Poland and Slovakia.
As the country’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki stated, the Polish authorities “know very well” that “large international agricultural businesses and oligarchs want to make money at the expense of Polish farmers.” Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that countries that ban the import of Ukrainian agricultural products will receive a “civilized” response. He also thanked the head of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, for lifting the restriction on the import of Ukrainian grain into the EU.