After February 24th, 2022, the Ukraine-EU land border, and the Polish part in particular, became the key corridor for the movement of people and goods, with Poland becoming Ukraine’s main trade partner. In 2022, it made up 15.1% – or $6.7 billion – of Ukrainian export’s total volume. Import-wise it was second: making up 10% of the total amount of import ($5.5 billion). Poland’s percentage in the total volume of Ukraine’s merchandise turnover stood at 12,2%.
As of August 2023, the situation appears to be similar. Poland remains Ukraine’s key partner in terms of export – $3,4 billion out of $24,5 billion or 13,9%. Import-wise it is still in second place with $4.4 billion out of a total of $41.1 billion or 10.7%.
Considering that the sea corridor under the no longer effective grain deal in 2022 enabled the export of 16,2 million tons worth of agricultural goods, Poland’s importance in land trade operations and other types of goods has all the more increased since then.
It also remains the main route for people crossing the border. The data for August 2023 shows that out of 3.9 million border crossings more than 50% took place in the Polish part of the border.
Ukraine’s role in Polish foreign trade, however, is smaller. In 2022, Ukraine was the 9th export destination for Poland, making up solely 2,8%. It also fell short of making it to the top-10 in terms of import. Though Ukraine doesn’t make up a substantial proportion of Polish export, still 75% of vehicle movement at the Poland’s EU external border occurs on its land border with Ukraine.
The Ukraine-Poland border is also critical for ensuring military and security logistics between Ukraine and the Allies. Not only is Poland the gateway for military aid, but it also hosts repair shops for the damaged Ukrainian equipment.
Finally, Poland has become the first and one of the key asylums for Ukrainian citizens. According to the European Commission, as of 31st June 2023, 971,000 Ukrainians enjoy temporary protection in Poland. The overall number of Ukrainian citizens in Poland who received the PESEL-UKR social number stands at 1.3 million. According to Ukraine’s Embassy in Poland, this number encompasses only those who entered Poland after the start of the full-scale war. It is estimated that between 2-3 million Ukrainian citizens live in Poland in total.
However, this is not a one-way road. Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian aggression is a key security factor for Poland – a circumstance that the Polish government well acknowledges. Furthermore, Ukrainians in the Polish labor market have been contributing to the growth of Polish GDP for many years.
Given Poland’s special role in Ukrainian trade and logistics, and Ukraine’s role in Polish national security, special approaches are necessary. The Ukraine-Poland border is a natural space for multifaceted cooperation in wartime, keeping the Ukrainian economy and Ukrainian state afloat, protecting Poland and EU’s security, and sheltering Ukrainian citizens while enabling them to maintain ties with their home country.
Analytical note «Ukraine-Poland border: cooperation and challenges
Project “EU Support in Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine – Resilience (EU4IBM-Resilience)”. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the ICMPD
