On the International Black Sea Action Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Prime Minister of Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov.

Issues related to ensuring security in the Black Sea region, considering Russia's severe violation of freedom of navigation and the status of the agreements reached during the official visit of the Ukrainian Head of State to Bulgaria in July 2023 were discussed, Zelenskyy’s press service reported.

"It's symbolic that our conversation is taking place on the International Black Sea Action Day. Unfortunately, Russia's aggression has turned the Black Sea region into a zone of war and a threat to freedom of navigation. We must, through joint efforts, find ways to ensure security in this region important for Europe and the world," Zelenskyy said.

The President provided detailed information about Ukraine's efforts to ensure global food security by establishing an alternative export corridor. In this context, a joint initiative involving Bulgaria, Türkiye, and Romania regarding demining activities in the Black Sea waters was noted, which is a practical contribution to ensuring security in the Black Sea region. Zelenskyy also expressed Ukraine's readiness to actively participate in demining projects.

Special attention was given to key issues of bilateral cooperation.

"I highly appreciate the intensification of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation. We can already see how our unity, the strong position of Black Sea states, works against Russian aggression. We are also grateful for Bulgaria's political support for Ukraine's European aspirations, active participation in the implementation of the Solidarity Lanes and the Ukrainian Peace Formula," the Head of State said.

Zelenskyy separately informed Denkov about the situation on the front lines and the urgent needs of Ukraine's defense forces. In this context, he expressed gratitude for recent decisions by the Bulgarian government to enhance the military capabilities of our country and emphasized the priority of strengthening Ukraine's air defense before the onset of winter.