In an effort to ease the ongoing protests by Polish hauliers, Poland's government has announced that it will be conducting heightened inspections of Ukrainian trucks on roads leading to the border. These inspections will encompass all transport regulations that apply to Ukrainian carriers. The Polish Infrastructure Minister, Alvin Gajadhur, stated that the hauliers have expressed a willingness to consider easing their protest if the technical and documentation inspections yield satisfactory results. The protests by Polish truckers, which have been ongoing for over three weeks, stem from what they perceive as unfair competition from their Ukrainian counterparts.

One of their demands is for the reinstatement of permits for Ukrainian trucks to enter the European Union, which were withdrawn due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite negotiations between Warsaw, Kyiv, and the EU, the dispute remains unresolved, prompting Poland to raise the issue at the upcoming EU meeting of transport ministers. The European Commission has condemned Poland's lack of involvement in resolving the trucker protests. EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean stated that the situation at the Polish border with Ukraine is unacceptable.

The protests have caused major traffic chaos at the border, resulting in the deaths of two Ukrainian drivers. Thousands of vehicles have been stranded in freezing temperatures as drivers wait to cross the border, leading to humanitarian aid deliveries being delayed. Ukraine's deputy infrastructure minister, Serhiy Derkach, accused Polish authorities of inaction and stated that the situation is inhumane. Poland, on the other hand, places the blame on Ukraine, claiming that Kyiv has refused to address the demands of Polish drivers to ease the passage of trucks returning from Ukraine.

The tension between Ukraine and Poland adds to existing strains between the two countries, with Poland banning Ukrainian grain imports earlier this year, which resulted in a war of words between the two governments. Three out of four crossings for trucks carrying cargo are now blocked, with Polish drivers rejecting compromise solutions. This has led Ukraine to request assistance from the European Union, urging the establishment of a monitoring group at the border. Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych called on Polish authorities to take action to lift the blockade, emphasizing that it poses a threat to people's lives and health.

The situation has become dire, with trucks lining up along sparsely populated roads, and drivers enduring difficult conditions with limited access to necessary amenities. The European Commission plans to facilitate talks between Poland, Ukraine, and the protesters in hopes of resolving the stand-off. In response to the situation, Slovak truckers are considering joining the blockade, with the Slovak Hauler's Union seeking to coordinate with their Hungarian counterparts for joint action at their border with Ukraine. The situation remains tense, with no immediate resolution in sight.