Vitalii Koval participates in EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting

Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, posted 26 May 2025 18:32

Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitalii Koval participated in the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH) meeting in Brussels.

AGRIFISH serves as a platform where agriculture and fisheries ministers from the 27 EU member states, alongside EU commissioners, shape key decisions in European agriculture policy.

The Minister informed his European counterparts that the enemy continued to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, launching over 900 missiles and Shahed drones in the past three days alone. He also presented images of agricultural infrastructure destroyed during the full-scale invasion.

He emphasised the critical need for clear and predictable trade relations with the European Union under these circumstances.

“Our position to our European partners is clear: Ukraine is not asking for privileges. We are asking for a partnership that functions in wartime conditions. This is about trust – about fair, transparent, and predictable trade rules that help us endure. russian aggression has already caused over USD 83.9 billion in damages to Ukraine’s agricultural sector. Yet our farmers do not give up – despite shelling, they sow, harvest, and feed the country and the world,” stressed Vitalii Koval.

He noted that Ukraine relied on agriculture more than any EU country, with the sector accounting for 17.5% of GDP and 59% of exports. It is a significant source of budget revenue for a country at war. However, Ukraine is not only an exporter. It also imports fertilisers, machinery, fuel, seeds, and plant protection products – 66% of these resources come from the EU, becoming integral to Ukrainian agricultural production. Ukraine’s agri-sector relies on European technologies and partnerships.

“Ukraine is not a threat to the European market. We are part of its resilience. We respect the concerns of EU member states for their own farmers. But we must find a model of partnership, not competition. Our farmers are reliable suppliers, not competitors, as russian propaganda attempts to portray. We are already aligning with European agricultural legislation, improving quality, investing in processing, environmental standards, and transparent supply chains. And we are defending European values,” underscored Vitalii Koval.

The Minister added that supporting Ukraine today is an investment in the stability and food security of all of Europe. It is a choice for a future where Ukraine is a full-fledged member of the European community.