Brussels is preparing emergency curbs on Ukrainian grain imports to five member states close to the war-torn country, bowing to pressure from Poland and Hungary after they took unilateral action to pacify local farmers.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would take “preventive measures” as EU officials tried to respond to several countries, including some of Kyiv’s staunchest allies, breaking ranks to defend their farmers from an influx of cheap grain.
The steps under discussion would bar imports of those products until June into the four member states bordering Ukraine, plus Bulgaria, except for re-export to other EU member states or parts of the world, said a senior EU official.