Ukraine has asked the European Union for €1.1 billion to keep its agricultural exports moving, according to a report from ubn.news.

The request targets the transport and logistics chain that carries Ukrainian grain, oilseeds and other farm products to foreign markets. Since Russia's full-scale invasion disrupted Black Sea port operations, Ukrainian exporters have relied heavily on overland routes through the EU — the so-called Solidarity Lanes — plus adapted sea corridors. That shift has raised freight costs and placed strain on border infrastructure in Poland, Romania and other neighboring states, squeezing farm margins at a time when Ukrainian growers already face elevated input costs and damaged storage capacity.

The €1.1 billion figure reflects Kyiv's assessment of what is needed to maintain export throughput in the near term. Agriculture remains a critical source of foreign currency revenue for Ukraine, and export volumes directly affect domestic basis levels and farmers' ability to finance the next planting season.

The request comes as the EU debates future support packages for Ukraine, including trade arrangements that have proven contentious with some member-state farm groups. Polish and other European growers have previously protested surges of Ukrainian grain entering their markets, prompting the EU to introduce safeguard mechanisms on sensitive products such as poultry, eggs and sugar.

No timeline for an EU decision on the funding request was reported, and it remains unclear whether the money would come as grants, loans or a mix of instruments. The European Commission has not yet publicly detailed its position on the proposal.

For European agribusiness, the stakes extend beyond Ukraine itself. Ukrainian corn, wheat and sunflower products are significant components of EU feed and crushing supply, and any sustained disruption to export flows would ripple into European commodity markets and processing margins.

The outcome of the request will hinge on negotiations between Kyiv and Brussels in the coming months, with Ukrainian officials expected to press the case that sustained export capacity is essential to both Ukraine's economy and broader regional food security.