PRESS RELEASE : Joint statement following the meeting of the delegations of Ukraine and the Republic of Poland

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 31 January 2022.

On January 31, 2022, on the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, the meeting between Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov and Minister of Infrastructure of Poland Andrzej Adamczyk was held in the presence of Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of Poland, Head of the Bureau for International Policy Jakub Kumoch.

Following the meeting, the text of the Joint Statement was agreed as follows:

1.1. The parties agreed to lift restrictions on the transit of freight cars through Ukraine to Poland by rail as soon as possible. By February 4, 2022, the Ukrainian side will inform the Polish side about the specific dates for the resumption of transit of freight cars through the territory of Ukraine.

1.2. The parties agreed to significantly increase the number of permits for international freight transportation, taking into account the needs of Ukrainian and Polish road carriers. By February 5, 2022, the parties must agree on the date of the meeting of the Joint Commission on International Road Transport, which should agree on the timing of transfer and the number of additional permits for international freight transportation.

1.3. The parties agreed to develop a joint action plan aimed at significantly improving the efficiency of international road checkpoints of the Republic of Poland and Ukraine. The relevant action plan must be agreed with the participation of representatives of customs, border and other services of Poland and Ukraine no later than the end of February 2022.

1.4. The parties agreed to initiate a revision of the provisions of the 1992 Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Poland on International Road Transport.

The parties assume that all points of the Joint Statement are interrelated and should be fully implemented.

The parties also noted the interest of Polish oil and gas companies PGNiG and PKN Orlen in investing in the Ukrainian oil and gas sector and agreed to facilitate their cooperation with NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine in this direction. For its part, KGHM has expressed its readiness to start negotiations on the joint development of non-ferrous metal deposits.