Ukrainians about Kołodziejczak's “peculiar” behavior. Deputy Minister: We are only people
Ukrainians who took part in negotiations regarding the import of goods to Poland drew attention to the behavior of Michał Kołodziejczak. The deputy minister of agriculture responded to the allegations.
Thursday, March 28, was another day of Polish-Ukrainian negotiations on the import of agricultural products from Ukraine to our country. Poland was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Czesław Siekierski, and the Deputy Minister, Michał Kołodziejczak, while from the Ukrainian side, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Agricultural and Food Policy, Mykola Solski, and the Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade, Taras Kaczka.
Ukrainians criticize Michał Kołodziejczak
The Ukrainian Grain Association posted an astonishing account of the meeting on social media. In addition to information about the conclusion of an agreement on the import of fruit and honey from Ukraine into Poland, attention was drawn to the behavior of Michał Kołodziejczak. As we read in the entry, according to the Ukrainian side, “the deputy minister of agriculture was behaving strangely.” “Many times he would jump up and run out of the room, then come back, sniffling and acting quite nervous,” we read.
According to representatives of the Ukrainian organization, “the politician's behavior contributed to the failure of the negotiations – an agreement could not be reached on two issues.” “However, we are sure that Ukraine and Poland will be able to solve all problems, no matter how difficult they may seem,” said representatives of the organization.
Michał Kołodziejczak responds to the accusations of the Ukrainians
Michał Kołodziejczak, in response to the allegations, stated that it was an attempt to discredit him. – The Ukrainians apparently did not like how well I was prepared for talks with them. During the many-hour-long meeting, I used substantive arguments, I recalled their previous announcements, which they are now trying to withdraw from, and this caused dissatisfaction – he explained in an interview with “Gazeta Wyborcza”.
The deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture said that “this is a dirty game and the Ukrainians' reaction to the accurate arguments he used at the negotiating table.” – This is a planned action, playing us. Two hours earlier, I provided them with a list of plant protection products that they can use, but we cannot, because they are prohibited in Poland and the European Union. This made them very angry. However, their nerves only increased when I clearly pointed out two lies to them – he enumerated.
The deputy minister assured that he only left the meeting once, and that was on the orders of an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture, because he was supposed to receive some new information that was important in the conversation. – I was stretching in my chair like many other people present at the meeting. The meeting lasted a long time, we all felt tired, we are only human – he said, adding that “he was sniffling because he had a cold and a runny nose.”