Andrii Deshchytsia: Polish farmers have Russian ears sticking out
1 March 2024 10:09
EХСLUSIVE
Russia is directly involved in the situation with the protests of Polish farmers on the border with Ukraine. This opinion was expressed in an exclusive interview with Kommersant Ukrainian 
diplomat, former Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andriy Deshchytsia.
The diplomat points out that one of the political forces that is fuelling the protests is the openly pro-Russian right-wing radical party Confederation. It is using the protests to once again voice Russian narratives in Poland.
According to him, it is Russia that benefits from such tensions between the neighbours.
“I think the Russian side is involved in these protests. All these provocations with grain, nails, unauthorised vehicle inspections are probably being done under the influence of Russia to cause Ukrainians to be seriously dissatisfied with the Poles. There are definitely Russian ‘ears’ or ‘feet’ here,”
– deshchytsia is sure.
In addition, he adds, these protests are also destabilising Polish society and creating problems for the Polish economy.
“These protests are affecting the domestic political situation in Poland: on the one hand, polls show that Polish society supports the protesters, and on the other hand, these protesters are creating quite serious problems for the Polish economy. They block roads, thus preventing Polish agricultural producers from supplying goods to Ukraine. And these are very large figures: the trade turnover from Poland to Ukraine last year amounted to $11 billion,”
– the diplomat informs.
Deshchytsia believes that the protests of Polish farmers at the borders are part of Russia’s hybrid war against the European Union.
“I don’t have enough arguments, but the situation looks like some element of a hybrid war that Russia has started against the European Union, against Europe, and it started with Poland, which is the most neurological country that can create tension with Ukraine. This can be played on,”
– the former ambassador believes.
He points out that these protests create tension in many European countries and work to weaken the EU as a whole.
“In fact, the protests are organised against Ukrainian grain, but they also create tension between countries that are members of the European Union, between Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Lithuania. And such an atmosphere of chaos or uncertainty, of distrust of each other, is actually useful for Russia. Maybe I’m wrong, but it’s like a little bit of preparation to weaken Europe before attacking it,”
– concludes Andriy Deshchytsia.
Read the full interview here: Why Poland is blocking the border: former Ambassador Andrzej Deschytsia about Russia’s “ears” and warning signs
