Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine Reach Deal on Grain Transport

As a major global supplier of wheat, barley, corn, and vegetable oils, Ukraine has been struggling to get its products to countries in need since the beginning of the war with Russia. In July, Russia withdrew from an agreement allowing Ukrainian grain to travel through the Black Sea forcing it to be exported over land through neighboring countries, causing tensions over disruptions to domestic markets.

However, Poland, Lithuania, and Ukraine have reached an agreement on how to expedite Ukrainian grain exports, with hopes that far-flung destination markets will benefit.

Under the terms of the deal, inspections of Ukrainian grain shipments will shift from the Ukraine-Poland border to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea, in order to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian exports through Polish territory.

Cargo inspections for pests and plant diseases will occur at Klaipeda, which will then export the grain by sea to international buyers. And while the official goal of the agreement has been to foster the movement of Ukrainian grain, this deal may also help diffuse tensions between Ukraine and Poland over grain prices, bringing greater unity to the EU in support of Ukraine in its war with Russia.

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