Bulgaria and 15 other EU countries: Third countries should support the European initiative to end the war in Ukraine

“A ceasefire would serve as a vital step in reducing the suffering of the civilian population and would open space for meaningful peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s aggressive war and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace”, the letter states. It also notes that Russia rejects such calls "without any indication of a genuine willingness to end its illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine."

According to the joint letter, the EU has a strategic interest in strengthening global support for the proposed ceasefire. "Contacts with third countries must be intensified to secure their support for this initiative. Many countries maintain close ties with Moscow, which could be used to increase diplomatic pressure on Russia", the letter to Kaja Kallas further reads.