Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Bulgarian Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov signed a bilateral security agreement.
This is reported by the correspondent of Suspilny.
“Today we signed a security agreement between our countries. The main points that I would like to draw attention to are the continuation of military support from Bulgaria for Ukraine, this is the joint production on the territory of our countries of various weapons, including drones. Bulgaria will use the SAFE program for such co-production,” Zelensky said after signing the agreement.
According to him, the agreement also includes arrangements in the energy sector.
“We are working to ensure that there is an active energy corridor. Technically, this corridor will be arranged, we hope, by the end of the year. This may be an alternative if there is a blockage from some representatives of Europe. As for gas, this corridor may have a level of about 10 billion cubic meters per year, which Ukraine can receive,” the president said.
The agreement also provides for:
- Bulgaria's inclusion in the PURL program to support air defense for Ukraine.
- support for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Gyurov, in turn, noted that this security agreement and cooperation provide opportunities for both countries to improve their capabilities to prevent threats.
“They will allow us to act quickly to protect both countries, our allies. And to economically benefit. Defense innovation centers in Bulgaria are a very productive opportunity to expand cooperation, to engage in co-production, relying on the very important battle-tested capabilities and experience that Ukraine has gathered in these difficult times,” he said.
According to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, the parties discussed security in the Black Sea .
“We like the experience that Ukraine has gained in protecting critical infrastructure, while also ensuring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Ukraine is a key factor in ensuring security not only in the Black Sea region, but also on NATO's entire eastern flank,” said Gyurov.
Ukraine and Bulgaria also signed a protocol regarding a school in Bolgrad .
“This is the largest diaspora of Bulgarians historically abroad. We made sure that these people will continue to receive their education in the Bulgarian language,” the Bulgarian Prime Minister said.
According to Gyurov, the economy of the two countries has many different areas of cooperation in defense, technology transfer, and innovation.
“Also in the energy sector. The railway connection between Alexandroupolis and Odessa. This is not just important for energy diversification, but also for the entire eastern flank of NATO. Bulgaria will support the reconstruction of Ukraine when this war is over,” he said.
With whom has Ukraine signed security agreements?
Currently, Ukraine has signed security agreements with 17 countries and is preparing to sign the same document with ten more countries.
Ukraine signed the first such agreement with the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024. On February 16, President Zelensky signed the following two agreements on security guarantees for Ukraine with Germany and France. February 23 Ukraine and Denmark signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support between states. On February 24, 2024, Ukraine concluded bilateral security agreements with Italy and Canada. On March 1, Ukraine and the Netherlands signed a bilateral security agreement in Kharkiv. On April 3, an agreement was signed with Finland. On April 11, a security agreement was signed between Ukraine and Latvia. On May 27, a similar document was signed with Spain, and on May 28, with Belgium. Portugal became the 12th state with which Ukraine concluded a bilateral security agreement. On May 31, Ukraine concluded security agreements with three countries — Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.
On June 13, on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Ukrainian and US Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Joe Biden signed a bilateral security agreement. On the same day, Ukraine signed a security agreement with Japan.
On June 27, Zelensky also signed security agreements with European Union members Lithuania and Estonia.
On July 8, Ukraine and Poland signed a bilateral security agreement. For the first time among the agreements already signed, it provides for the possibility of intercepting missiles and drones in Ukrainian airspace launched towards Poland, and for the creation of the Ukrainian Legion. On July 10, an agreement was signed with Luxembourg. On July 11, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, with Romania. On July 18, Zelensky visited Britain, where he spoke at the summit of the European Political Community and signed two more agreements – with the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
On September 4, an agreement with Ireland was signed — and within the framework of the visit to Kyiv of the Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
On October 17, Ukraine signed an agreement with Greece on security cooperation. In particular, the country will help train Ukrainian pilots and technicians working with F-16 fighter jets.