Ukraine and the European Union will not return to pre-war conditions of agricultural trade after the expiration of the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM), but will work out a compromise version of economic cooperation in the near future. This was stated by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Vitaliy Koval, on April 14 during a national television marathon, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
The minister noted that his meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture, Christophe Hansen, was constructive and professional, focusing on discussing key issues.
“The interim positive outcome of the Ukrainian delegation’s negotiations in Brussels last week is that there will definitely be no return to pre-war trade conditions. It will be a compromise solution, which will be developed in the near future,” he said.
Koval also added that there is an instruction from the Prime Minister of Ukraine to develop a new interaction framework, which will take into account the interests of both Ukrainian and European farmers, ensuring that trade remains predictable, its volumes controllable, and that Ukrainian agricultural products retain access to the European market.
“It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the people. It’s crucial for us to maintain the stability of rural areas. Ukrainian farmers in Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions need access to the European market because it’s a premium market,” the minister stressed.
