Ukraine poses no threat to European farmers and is not asking for trade privileges, but is seeking an equal partnership with the European Union.
This was emphasized by Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Vitalii Koval, during a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) in Brussels, Ukrinform reports, citing the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
“Our message to our European partners is clear: Ukraine is not asking for privileges. We are asking for a partnership that functions under wartime conditions. It’s about trust — about fair, transparent, and predictable trade rules that help us survive. Russian aggression has already caused over $83.9 billion in damage to Ukraine’s agricultural sector. But our farmers are not giving up — despite the shelling, they continue to sow, harvest, and feed both the country and the world,” said Koval.
The Minister informed his European colleagues that Russian forces continue to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. Over the past three days, over 900 missiles and Shahed drones were launched. He also showed photos of destroyed agricultural infrastructure facilities caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Koval stressed that in such circumstances, clear and predictable trade relations with the EU are critically important for Ukraine.
He noted that Ukraine is more dependent on agriculture than any EU country, as it accounts for 17.5% of the country’s GDP and 59% of exports, serving as a vital source of revenue for a nation at war.
At the same time, the Minister pointed out that Ukraine imports a large share (66%) of agricultural inputs from the EU, including fertilizers, machinery, fuel, seeds, and crop protection products. Therefore, he reassured, Ukraine is not a threat to the European market, but a contributor to its stability. Ukrainian farmers are reliable suppliers, not competitors, as Russian propaganda tries to portray.
Koval added that supporting Ukraine is an investment in Europe’s stability and food security — a choice in favor of a future in which Ukraine is a full-fledged member of the European community.
AGRIFISH is a platform where agriculture and fisheries ministers from the 27 EU member states, along with European Commissioners, shape the bloc’s core agricultural policy decisions.
As Ukrinform previously reported, during a series of high-level meetings in Brussels, Minister Koval noted that although the European Commission has approved transitional measures to take effect on June 6, Ukraine and the EU have the political will to agree on balanced trade conditions by the late July.
Photo: Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine
Source: Ukraine seeking partnership with EU, not trade privileges – Agrarian Minister
