Polish minister visits Ukraine to present aid package

"The minister is preparing and presenting an aid package for Ukraine, as well as an idea for cooperation and political support," he said. "Poland cannot only be a military hub, but should also be an economic and political hub for Ukraine.

(New throughout) KYIV/WARSAW, Dec 22 (Reuters) -

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski visited Kyiv on Friday to present an aid package for Ukraine on his first official foreign visit, a ministry spokesman said. Poland has been involved in humanitarian and military assistance for neighbouring Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Poland also welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees.

"This is an important visit because he is the first politician of this rank to appear in Kiyv after the EU's decision to start the accession process with Ukraine and Moldova," ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski was quoted by news agency PAP as saying. All 27 EU states except Hungary

agreed last week to start accession talks with Ukraine.

Sikorski will also meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the spokesman said. "The minister is preparing and presenting an aid package for Ukraine, as well as an idea for cooperation and political support," he said.

"Poland cannot only be a military hub, but should also be an economic and political hub for Ukraine. The minister will declare support for Ukrainian aspirations and for Ukraine's preparations for EU membership." One problem that has overshadowed Polish-Ukrainian relations in recent weeks is the issue of grain from Ukraine and a blockade of several border crossings by

truck drivers . The countries' farm ministers held online talks, the Ukrainian ministry said on the Telegram messenger app on Friday.

Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky suggested a meeting to discuss "many new challenges" for both sides in 2024 in Kyiv or on the Polish-Ukrainian border, which has been blocked for over a month by Polish truckers. His Polish counterpart, Adam Siekerski, confirmed his readiness for discussion, according to the ministry.

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