Ukraine insists on free EU agricultural exports for full membership

Ukraine has made free export of agricultural products to the European Union a key condition for its full membership in the bloc. This stance was articulated by Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy, Taras Vysotskyi, in an interview with Politico. He emphasized that Kyiv cannot accept a membership model with permanent restrictions on food exports to EU countries, calling such restrictions fundamentally incompatible with full-fledged EU membership.

The European Commission has proposed an alternative approach, suggesting that Ukraine should focus on returning to its historical export markets in Africa and the Middle East rather than gaining full access to the EU market. However, Vysotskyi argued that Ukraine should not be viewed solely as a threat to European farmers. He highlighted Ukraine’s potential to reduce the EU’s dependence on imports of fertilizers, soy, and lysine, while also providing better export routes through the Black Sea.

Vysotskyi confirmed Ukraine’s willingness to accept transitional periods, including phased support, temporary quotas, and protective measures for sensitive goods. However, he insisted that all such measures must have a clear end date. The minister reiterated Ukraine’s goal of becoming an EU member that can supply not only grain and raw materials but also feed, processed products, and biofuels to Europe.