site.btaRussia Continues to Shell Civilian Targets Barbarically amid Efforts for Peaceful Dialogue, Says Ukrainian Ambassador Ilashchuk

Russia “cynically and barbarically” continues to shell civilian targets amid efforts for peaceful dialogue led by the United States, the European Union and NATO, said Olesya Ilashchuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, at a press conference at the BTA National Press Club here on Tuesday.  

Ambassador Ilashchuk participated in the press conference following a visit to Ukraine by a delegation of independent Bulgarian experts, invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

The delegation included Solomon Passy, President and founder of the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria; Maxim Behar, Vice President of the Atlantic Club; Velizar Shalamanov, Director of Defense Policy at the Atlantic Club; and Ivan Anchev, Co-Chairman of the Atlantic Council of Bulgaria. Todor Tagarev, former minister of defense, and bTV journalist and host Svetoslav Ivanov were also in Ukraine. 

“It is extremely valuable for us that prominent Bulgarian politicians, former ministers, and public figures joined the event, organised with the aim of encouraging dialogue and discussion in the international community toward strengthening support for Ukraine,” the Ukrainian Ambassador emphasized.  

She thanked the Bulgarian Government, NGOs, volunteers, cultural and educational institutions and businesses who support Ukraine. "Together and united, we are strong,” concluded Olesya Ilashchuk. 

Asked about media reports that former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba had left the country, the Ambassador replied that she had no such information and that this was not the topic of the press conference.