In a bid to draw attention to their concerns over the surge in Ukrainian truck traffic, Polish truckers have organized a blockade at the border between Poland and Ukraine. The protest, led by Jacek Sokół, the owner of a small trucking company in Łuków, focuses on the need for the government to recognize the issue and take immediate action.

According to the Polish transport industry, the number of Ukrainian trucks crossing the Polish border has skyrocketed this year. While previously, only around 180,000 trucks would cross into Poland annually, this year, the figure has reached close to 900,000. This increase has raised concerns among Polish truckers, who claim that the influx of Ukrainian competitors is negatively impacting their business.

The protests have drawn attention from various entities, including the Polish and Ukrainian governments, as well as the European Commission. Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean expressed disapproval of the blockade, stating, "I totally discourage this kind of behavior of blocking a border. It's not something very European." The Ukrainian Ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Zharych, also condemned the protest, emphasizing that such actions only benefit their "common enemy," the Russian terrorists, and harm the interests of both Ukraine and Poland.

Responding to the protests, Poland's Ministry of Infrastructure called for the blockade to be lifted, with the Minister of Infrastructure sending a letter to the protest committee members urging them to do so. However, Warsaw maintains that it cannot undermine an existing European Union deal, which allows for the transportation of cargo between Ukraine and an EU country without additional paperwork. Nevertheless, Ukrainian truckers are not allowed to pick up and drop off loads within the EU under this agreement.

While the European Union has expressed support for the solidarity lanes created to assist Ukraine and Moldova in their export and import activities, Polish truckers remain concerned about the increased competition from Ukrainian counterparts. The situation resembles the resistance faced by West European transport companies following the entry of countries like Poland, Romania, and Lithuania into the EU, which resulted in lower prices and increased competition.

The Polish truckers' main complaint lies in the practice of cabotage, in which Ukrainian truckers transport goods within Poland, along with carrying cargo between Poland and other countries. Sokół highlighted the significant impact on his business, stating, "I have a small company. I've had to reduce my fleet by 40 percent to just eight trucks this year because the Ukrainian do cabotage so much cheaper."

This is not the first time that truckers have staged protests. Similar demonstrations occurred in May, reflecting the ongoing concern among Polish truckers regarding the influx of Ukrainian trucks. However, the current protest has taken place during a political transition in Poland, as the right-wing Law and Justice party government makes way for an opposition coalition, which is not expected to be completed until late December. The lack of decision-makers in Warsaw hampers efforts to address the strike effectively.

Amid the ongoing border protests, Ukraine is also grappling with the impact of Poland's grain ban and the difficulties of exporting essential goods for its wartime economy. For Ukraine, the border protests pose further challenges in maintaining the vital corridors of solidarity between Ukraine and the EU.

As the blockade continues, the Polish government faces the task of finding a solution that balances the concerns of their trucking industry with the obligations of the EU deal. The situation calls for a dialogue between all the involved parties to reach a resolution that supports both the Ukrainian and Polish economies while maintaining movement across the border.