Kiev rejects EU membership with permanent limits on its food exports

Ukraine "cannot agree" to a model of EU membership that would permanently restrict sales of certain food products to the bloc, Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky told Politico.

The European Commission has endorsed such a model as part of its preparations for enlargement. Instead of full market access, Brussels would prefer to help Ukraine return to its "historic" export markets, including Africa and West Asia.

"For us there is a fundamental difference between a transition period and a permanent restriction. Ukraine is ready for the first. The second would contradict the very logic of full membership in the European Union," Vysotsky said.

He said Kiev is open to transition periods, including phased farm support, temporary quotas and safeguards for sensitive products, but they must have an end date.

Vysotsky insists Ukraine should not be seen "exclusively" as a threat to European farmers. He argues it could reduce EU dependence on imports of fertilizers, soy and feed-grade lysine, and give EU producers better access to Black Sea export routes.

The dispute comes as Poland and Romania refuse to help move stranded Ukrainian grain into the EU. Ukraine's September farm exports reached only 46% of the volume Kiev says it needs.