BUDAPEST, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Hungary's main border crossing with Ukraine experienced significant delays on Wednesday as long queues of trucks formed, according to the customs authority. This came as haulers sought alternative routes due to ongoing blockades at crossings in Poland and Slovakia, where truckers are protesting against the unrestricted entry of Ukrainian drivers.

At the Poland-Ukraine border crossing, trucks have been backed up for miles as Polish truckers continue to block roads at three border crossings in a protest that has entered its second week. Similarly, the main border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine was blocked temporarily on Tuesday by a single truck, although the country's haulers' union has hinted at the possibility of joining the protest alongside their Polish counterparts.

The truckers' main demand is to impose restrictions on the number of Ukrainian trucks entering the European Union. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, truckers from Ukraine have been exempt from acquiring permits to cross borders, which has adversely affected the business of Polish and Slovak drivers.

The effects of these blockades have now spilled over into Hungary, with long queues forming at the main border crossing of Zahony as trucks wait to enter Ukraine. Despite efforts by the Hungarian Tax and Customs Authority to manage the increased traffic, the capacity of the Tisza bridge and the crossing point severely limits their possibilities.

Dennik N, a Slovak news website, reported that the blockade at the Slovakia-Ukraine crossing, which started on Tuesday, ended just before midnight, but queues still remained. In an effort to escalate their protest, Polish truckers plan to block the Medyka crossing along with farmers starting Thursday, according to one of the organizers.

Last week, Ukraine and Poland held talks to address the blockages at their border, but no progress was reported. They were scheduled to have further discussions with the European Union on Wednesday. Ukrainian authorities revealed that around 3,000 predominantly Ukrainian trucks, including those transporting fuel and humanitarian aid, were stranded on the Polish side of the border on Sunday.

The uncertainty surrounding the ongoing protests and blockades has resulted in significant disruptions to cross-border trade and transportation between Ukraine and its neighboring countries. As the discussions continue, it remains to be seen whether any agreements will be reached to alleviate the grievances of the truckers and restore normal operations at the affected border crossings.