Europe must continue to plan in a collective and coordinated manner its next steps in ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Together with our European and transatlantic partners, Bulgaria stands ready to participate in the solution for peace and security.

This is what Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov said during a videoconference meeting of Heads of State and Government and of the Presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and NATO in continuation of efforts to support Ukraine and take further steps to ensure a lasting and sustainable peace in the country, at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

During his speech, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov also stressed that Bulgaria welcomed the results of the Jeddah talks between the US and Ukraine, including the proposed ceasefire agreement and the resumption of intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine from the US. Prime Minister Zhelyazkov informed the meeting that Bulgaria is also seeking to synchronise the growth of its defence sector with wider European defence initiatives so that it can better contribute to the security and strategic autonomy of Europe and NATO. I BGNES