site.btaForeign Minister Calls for Political Solution to Halt Attacks on Merchant Ships in Black Sea

A political solution is needed to stop attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said on Monday as she arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Speaking to journalists, Petrova said recent developments showed that the war was spreading across the region, describing the situation as extremely troubling.

She said Bulgaria was determined to establish the facts and work with its partners on a coordinated response.

Petrova called for efforts to secure a moratorium on attacks against merchant vessels, stressing that the issue affected not only Bulgaria but also neighbouring countries.

She also highlighted the importance of the Black Sea security centre being developed jointly with Romania and called for closer coordination among European partners.

Black Sea security was not merely a regional policy issue but a matter of concern for the entire European Union, the Minister said.

Petrova noted that efforts had been made to establish corridors for Ukrainian grain shipments across the Black Sea, but said these did not appear to provide the desired level of security.

She reiterated the need for a comprehensive political solution to end attacks on commercial shipping, stressing that this was important both for Ukraine and for countries dependent on its grain exports.