The Ukrainian official also assured European farmers that Ukraine’s agricultural sector does not need subsidies from the European Union and that Ukrainian EU membership will only strengthen trade relations between countries and global food security.
“Ukraine is not claiming subsidies. We need your support, weapons to defend our country, not subsidies for the Ukrainian agricultural industry; it has always operated efficiently so far without subsidies,” said Dykun.
Additionally, Ukrainian President Zelensky on Thursday called on European Union leaders to fulfill their promises to provide more military equipment to his war-torn country. The country says it needs more material as soon as possible.
Last month, several EU countries began imposing an import ban on food and foodstuffs from Russia and Belarus. Until now, most food and agricultural products were not included in the European sanctions against the penalties imposed several years ago related to the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula. Even with the expansion of those sanctions, many Russian agricultural exports remained exempt, but that is now beginning to change.
Last week, EU countries decided to impose restrictive measures against two more Russian individuals and four entities that undermine or threaten Ukraine. In total, this Russia boycott now applies to over 2,200 individuals, companies, and institutions. It involves asset freezes, and EU citizens and businesses are forbidden to conduct financial transactions with them.
For natural persons, there is also a travel ban, preventing them from entering or traveling through EU territories. Moreover, Russian LNG supplies are now also subjected to the sanctions regime.
In the week the European Union officially began accession negotiations with Ukraine, import duties are again being imposed on certain agricultural products. Brussels will for the first time activate the long-threatened "emergency brake," including for chicken and eggs.
Earlier this year, after pressure from France and Eastern European countries, Brussels set a maximum quota based on previous deliveries in the second half of 2021 and all of 2022 and 2023. The new regulation came into effect on June 6, 2024, and barely two weeks later the quota limit was already reached.