Von der Leyen for TVN24: we will decide on Ukrainian grain imports by Friday

The European Commission announced "temporary preventive measures" in May that would ban sales of wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds into Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia, while allowing transit to non-EU markets, mainly in Africa.

These measures are due to expire on Friday, September 15. The five countries bordering Ukraine have said they want the ban to be extended.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Tuesday (Sept. 12) that Poland would keep the full ban on Ukrainian grain imports after September 15. "This embargo will remain effective. We won't let Ukrainian grain to destabilize Polish farming," he said.

The TVN24 correspondent in Brussels, Maciej Sokołowski, spoke with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. He asked her about the embargo on Ukrainian grain and Mateusz Morawiecki's decision in that regard.

"We have agreed to clear rules we have now. The expiration of the measures might be on Friday and we have agreed we look into the process and into the figures and facts on the ground. This the period right now. So, we’ll see by Friday what the decision is," the EU Commission President said.

In her opinion "we should not underestimate (the fact that - edit.) the Solidarity Lanes are a big success". "60% of Ukrainian grain is exported into third countries via the European Union through the Solidarity Lanes."

"The reason why we have all this is because Russia is blocking the Black Sea grain initiative. So, I strongly call on Russia to de-block the Black Sea, because this is necessary to feed the world and serve the world with the Ukrainian grain," von der Leyen said.

Asked about the decision made by the Polish PM, she replied: "We have the process agreed that on Friday we will take a decision".