Lorry traffic at four border crossings has been paralysed since November by Polish truckers, who are demanding the reintroduction of entry permits to the European Union for their Ukrainian competitors.
But on Monday, the local authorities in Dorohusk announced they were cancelling their consent for protests at the checkpoint, citing the toll the demonstrations were taking on other Polish companies.
“Firms are already suffering very large losses and unfortunately someone had to take this decision,” Dorohusk mayor Wojciech Sawa told AFP.
He said the move had not been made in coordination with the Ukrainian authorities.
“I took this decision myself, after much thought and after receiving many phone calls from all over Poland. I cannot allow people to lose their jobs in other areas of our economy,” Sawa said.
Kyiv on Monday confirmed the Dorohusk crossing point between Ukraine and Poland had been reopened.
“The blockade of the Yahodyn-Dorogusk (sic) checkpoint is over. Stable truck traffic has been restored since 2:00 pm (1200 GMT),” Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on social media.
“The blocking of the largest cargo crossing point lasted for more than a month,” he said, adding that several trucks had already begun crossing from both sides of the border.
Ukraine relies heavily on road transport with EU member Poland for its exports and imports, particularly since the Russian invasion nearly two years ago.
The EU waived entry permits for Ukrainian hauliers following Russia’s invasion to ease the flow of goods in and out the war-torn country.
But the Polish truckers say it led to “unfair competition” from Ukrainian firms and caused a slump in their earnings.
The protesters want the permit system reinstated and a simplification of procedures for the Polish trucks leaving Ukraine to return home.
Kubrakov said that unblocking the Yahodyn-Dorohusk border was only the beginning of easing road freight traffic at other crossings.
“The border must be fully unblocked and further blockages will not be allowed,” he said.
Contacted by AFP, the Polish infrastructure ministry said no deal has been struck between Poland and Ukraine to resolve the dispute.
Kyiv said earlier that the fallout from the protest had been “catastrophic” and that Ukrainian drivers stuck at the border were facing “dire” conditions.
