site.btaBulgaria Reaffirms Support for Ukraine - PM

Bulgarian support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine was reaffirmed on Monday by Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, who participated in a summit initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the occasion of the third anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.

At the forum, which was also attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and leaders from Europe and the world, Zhelyazkov pointed out that since the beginning of the war Bulgaria has been providing military, financial, political and humanitarian assistance to Kyiv as part of the international support efforts. "As a member of the European Union and NATO, we reaffirm our commitment to further support Ukraine, Zhelyazkov said, pointing out that Kyiv's future lies in the European family and the transatlantic community.

The Prime Minister was adamant that there should be no negotiations for peace in Ukraine without Ukraine and the European Union. In his words, Kyiv must be given reliable and stable security guarantees, which are indispensable for any comprehensive, just and lasting peace on the European continent. "We must continue our comprehensive support for Ukraine.  Achieving peace through building strength is the strategy to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of peace talks," Zhelyazkov added. The Prime Minister stressed the appalling human cost of the war and described Russia's aggression against Ukraine as a direct assault on peace and stability in Europe and the world, the UN Charter and the principles of international law.