Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Roman Leshchenko asked MEPs on Tuesday 22 March for EU help with fuel, fertiliser, logistics and transport. He also mentioned the idea of a special EU fund for Ukrainian farmers.
In a video address to the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, Leshchenko called for support from “our European family” on logistics and transport.
The Ukrainian Minister mentioned a proposal under discussion to create a special fund at EU level to support Ukrainian farms. “Small farmers are at the front, so access to capital is out of their reach”, he argued, just before the internet connection with him was lost.
Before that, Mr Leshchenko denounced a “cruel war” against the country, considered as the “granary of Europe”. In the Middle East, countries are wondering how to source wheat and sunflower oil, he said.
“Stop cooperating with the Russians”, Leshchenko said, referring to famines and shortages of certain agricultural products. He added: “We had to supply 13 million tonnes of maize, 10 million tonnes of sunflower oil. Now, the ports are blocked, when 80% of products are transported by boat. We have to feed more than 400 million people, and today famine is threatening for these people”.
The Minister also noted that Ukraine is obliged to limit its exports “to ensure (its) survival”. “Farmers are sowing, as soon as they can, risking their lives”, he added.
Mr Leshchenko asked European companies to supply Ukrainian farmers with plant protection products. He called for EU support for a “green corridor” to ensure the transit of goods to supply African and Middle Eastern countries, with EU countries serving as transit countries.
“Our concerns are not the same”, admitted Herbert Dorfmann (EPP, Italy), knowing that Ukraine has to “protect its citizens from bombs while the EU has to feed its population”.
“We will stand by you right till the last”, said Clara Aguilera (S&D, Spain).
“European farmers are not going to let Ukrainian farmers down!”, assured Ulrike Müller (Renew Europe, Germany).
Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czech Republic) called for tougher sanctions against Russia. “Can you feed your people?”, she asked the Ukrainian minister.
“We need to keep the corridors open so that food can continue to flow and provide aid” in the form of seeds and fuel, said Luke Ming Flanagan (The Left, Ireland).
“We want to help you as much as we can, but is that enough?”, asked Bronis Ropė (Greens/EFA, Lithuania), who spoke of the need to stop the destruction of port infrastructure in order to be able to export products again. He warned that Egypt and Syria will face famine if the problem is not solved. “We have to stop buying energy products from Russia”, Ropė said.
“We don’t want to provide the oil for the Russian tanks”, explained Roman Leshchenko. “We have stocks of grain and seed, but we have nothing left” in terms of plant protection. He asked Bayer for support, especially in obtaining fungicides and herbicides. In terms of logistics and transport, he asked for EU assistance, as “all our infrastructure is destroyed”.
Roman Leshchenko had addressed the Agriculture Council the previous day (see EUROPE 12915/4). “Aid will be provided to Ukrainian farmers, who need 50,000 tonnes of fuel”, said EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)