The newly inaugurated Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing on the Ukrainian-Polish border witnessed the passage of the first 30 empty lorries, marking a significant development in Kyiv’s efforts to address the ongoing protests by Polish truckers. The protests, initiated on November 6, have led to the blockade of four border crossings, with Polish drivers expressing concerns about perceived unfair competition from their Ukrainian counterparts.
One of the key demands of Polish hauliers has been to cease permit-free access for Ukrainian truckers to the European Union, a demand contested by Kyiv and Brussels. The protesters also sought free passage for empty Polish lorries across the border.
The Uhryniv-Dolhobychuv crossing opened its gates at 1:00 a.m. local time on Monday exclusively for empty trucks, allowing 30 heavy vehicles with a combined permissible weight exceeding 7.5 metric tons to depart from Ukraine, as confirmed by the country’s border service on the Telegram messaging app.
Last week, Ukraine announced reaching certain agreements with Poland to alleviate the pressure at the blockaded border crossings. However, the primary demands of the protesting truckers were reportedly not addressed during these discussions.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov emphasized the collaborative nature of the decision, stating on social media, “The ultimate goal of the work is to unblock the border, which has been blocked for a month on the Polish side and has critical consequences for the economies of both countries and the European market.”
The prolonged protests at the border could potentially have economic repercussions for Ukraine, with a senior official warning that it might cost the country one percentage point of GDP growth if the situation persists.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Zvarych expressed hope for a resolution through ongoing negotiations with the Polish government, highlighting the common ground and compromises identified during the talks. The proposals developed jointly by Kyiv and Warsaw aim to address the concerns of the protesters and bring an end to the month-long blockade on the Polish side of the border.
