Poland and Hungary on Saturday announced a ban on importing grain and other agricultural products from Ukraine in order to protect their domestic production, according to officials from both countries.

Ukraine's grain exports to other countries have been through the European Union since the traditional export route through the Black Sea was closed due to the Russian invasion.

But due to logistical problems, the build-up of grain stocks in Poland led to lower prices in the domestic market, prompting farmers to demonstrate and forcing the resignation of the Polish Minister of Agriculture.

"Today (Saturday) the government decided to ban imports of grain into Poland, as well as dozens of other agricultural food products," said leader of Poland's ruling party, Jaroslav Kaczynski.

"Otherwise, this will lead to a serious crisis in Poland's agricultural sector," he added.

Kaczynski stressed in a speech to a meeting of his party, "Law and Justice," that Poland continues to support Ukraine. "We remain unchanged friends and allies of Ukraine," he said.

In a similar statement, Hungarian Minister of Agriculture Istvan Nagy announced on Facebook that his country had banned the import of agricultural products from Ukraine.

The two countries announced that the ban would last until June 30.

In Poland, the ban includes imports of cereals, sugar, meat, fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and other foodstuffs.

A statement from the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, carried by news agencies, said cereals, oilseeds and many other agricultural products would be banned.

But the Ukrainian Ministry of Agricultural Policy said Saturday, in response to the Polish ban, that it "regrets this decision."

The ministry said that "Polish farmers are facing a difficult situation, but we would like to point out that Ukrainian farmers are facing the most dangerous situation" because of the war.

The ministry suggested that the two countries reach an agreement in the coming days that satisfies both parties.

"We are open to any further measures that can lead to stabilization of the situation," Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller told the Polish News Agency.

Budapest said in a statement that during the lockdown period "the government expects a permanent solution and the adoption of measures from the European Union."

She added that Hungary was "committed to representing the interests of the Hungarian agricultural community".

Last month, Poland and four other Central European countries asked for EU help to find a solution to the problem caused by low prices for Ukrainian grain.