Speaker of Bulgaria's Parliament in Ukraine: We are committed to strategic assistance to Kiev

The Speaker of Bulgaria’s Parliament, Rosen Zhelyazkov, arrived on an official visit to Ukraine on February 6. The parliamentary delegation includes GERB-UDF MP Daniel Mitov; Ivaylo Mirchev from “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria” and Stanislav Anastasov from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF).

After more than 10-hour train journey to Kiev, which dozens of world leaders travelled during the last 2 years of war, Rosen Zhelyazkov first visited the Verkhovna Rada.

At the entrance of the Verkhovna Rada, Rosen Zhelyazkov was greeted by his Ukrainian counterpart Ruslan Stefanchuk. The two had a one-to-one meeting.

Rosen Zhelyazkov delivered a speech from the rostrum of the Rada.

Zhelyazkov's speech started with words in Ukrainian. He also quoted the words of one of the most famous Ukrainian poets, Maxim Kryvtsov, who said "We will get our life back".

Bulgaria categorically condemns Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and commits itself to strategic assistance, the Bulgarian Parliament Speaker further said.

He stressed that the assistance to Ukraine was set at the highest level with seven parliamentary decisions to provide APCs, anti-aircraft guided missiles and ammunition. Zhelyazkov also defended the country's European integration.

The Parliament Speaker expressed concern about Russia's unprecedented military actions in the Black Sea and the planned presidential elections in annexed Crimea and the occupied territories.

Rosen Zhelyazkov's speech was interrupted several times by loud applause of the Ukrainian MPs.

Ukrainian MPs on both sides of the chamber unfurled the Bulgarian flag.

After the one-to-one meeting, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, thanked the Bulgarian Parliament and the Bulgarian people for the great support they give to Ukraine. "The decisions to provide military and humanitarian aid are of great importance to us and will never be forgotten," Stefanchuk said.

Rosen Zhelyazkov's speech to the Verkhovna Rada was the third by a foreign guest this year. In January 2024, UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, addressed the Ukrainian Parliament, and before that Latvian Parliament Speaker, Daiga Mierina, did. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has also spoken from this rostrum.