Ukraine Wants to Shield Its Grain Trucks from Russia Inside EU

Ukraine is seeking to transfer customs inspections for grain trucks to neighboring EU territory, hoping to reduce their exposure to Russian drones while they wait to cross the border.

Poland and Slovakia are discussing the proposal with Kyiv, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the talks.

Russian drones have repeatedly hit queues carrying Ukrainian agricultural produce near EU crossings in recent weeks.

The negotiations come as attacks on ports and shipping force exporters to rely more heavily on overland routes and river transport, placing additional pressure on border infrastructure.

Customs Talks Gather Urgency

Ukraine already operates joint border controls with Moldova and wants to extend that arrangement to other neighbors, its foreign ministry said.

Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Kyiv hoped to conclude an agreement with Poland quickly.

Russia was “deliberately trying to strike our borders, disrupt logistics, transportation, disrupt the cargo movement across the border,” Tykhyi said.

The European Commission said it was assisting Moldova in transferring all customs inspections onto Moldovan territory.

Ukraine has documented attacks on crossings bordering Romania, Moldova and Poland since August.

Disruption has backed up traffic in both directions: on Wednesday, Ukrainian customs officials reported that more than 1,200 trucks were awaiting entry into Ukraine at a crossing in the Volyn region.

Port Attacks Squeeze Export Earnings

Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi said strikes against major seaports and nearby vessels had roughly halved agricultural exports.

September shipments totaled 2.4 million tonnes, equivalent to 46% of the volume Ukraine could potentially export.

“Without full access to Black Sea ports, we effectively face an objective limit on exports at 45 to 50 percent,” he said.

The losses are adding to financial pressure on Kyiv.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Wednesday that Ukraine was missing out on about €60 million in export earnings each day, while its estimated funding shortfall for next year stood at €70 billion.

French President Emmanuel Macron last week urged efforts to restore Ukrainian trade routes, linking export income to the country’s ability to sustain its economy and war effort as European governments struggle to provide financing.

Alternative Routes Face Constraints

The Commission is stepping up efforts to move Ukrainian produce through the EU toward African and Asian markets.

Its alternative freight corridors, known as solidarity lanes, date to the disruption that followed Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Danube shipments rose from approximately 600,000 tonnes in August to 1.16 million tonnes in September, according to the Commission.

The Black Sea accounted for only 10% of Ukrainian exports last month.

However, congested railways and canals, alongside drought-related low water on the Danube, constrain those alternatives.

Kyiv is also considering Baltic ports, although shipping through them costs substantially more than using the Black Sea.

Poland, Hungary and Slovakia prohibit Ukrainian grain imports while permitting limited transit to other destinations.

The Commission is also seeking donated rolling stock to support Ukraine’s railway operator.