The meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council heard information provided by member states bordering Ukraine on their request to prolong the import ban introduced after Ukrainian grain intended for delivery to the Middle East and Africa flooded local markets.

Nagy said the import ban, which does not affect transit deliveries, should be extended "at least until the end of the year" and warned that Russia's exit from the Black Sea grain deal could divert 40 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain to the EU's internal market, causing traditional European agriculture markets "to collapse".

Even if the import ban is not extended, Hungary will defend its farmers "at any price", he added.