The transfer of Ukrainian subsoil to international partners is a difficult but unalterable choice. This opinion was expressed by Andrii Dykun, Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

«Either we, together with our partners, will make money on our subsoil, or the Russians will take it for free,” he said, noting that Ukraine needs strong partners. In his opinion, when transferring Ukrainian subsoil or farmland for use, priority should be given to European partners.

The Chairman of the UAC reminded that there are many foreign companies operating in Ukraine whose shares are listed on European stock exchanges.

“How many owners of these shares came to defend Ukraine? If we had sold the land before the full-scale invasion, I am sure that it would have been bought long ago,” he said.

At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada failed adoption a law by 2022 that would allow everyone but Russian citizens to buy land.

“Then the story would have been different: they would have called it 'Russian lands' instead of 'Russian world',” Dykun emphasized.

He also criticized the transfer of state agricultural land through Prozorro.Sale auctions, emphasizing that this land should be transferred free of charge to farmers who lost their farms due to the war.

“The state owes them,” said the UAC Chairman.

He also reminded that farmers are waiting for the adoption of a law on suspending loans for enterprises under occupation.