site.btaPM Petkov Meets with Ukrainian Counterpart Shmyhal in Kyiv

Support for Ukrainian refugees, the EU prospects of Ukraine and energy security topped the agenda of a meeting in Kyiv Thursday between visiting Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia said in a Facebook post.

Shmyhal expressed appreciation for the warm welcome that thousands of Ukrainian women and children receive in Bulgaria and said that they will need support for returning home the soonest possible. He also thanked for the Bulgarian Government's decision to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine worth 706,000 euro and another 181,000 euro for the Ukrainian refugees.

Shmyhal also voiced appreciation for the transfer of "defensive ammunition" for its service persons "who protect the European borders, not just Ukraine". "Weapons is the main thing that Ukraine needs now to deter the enemy," he said, as quoted by the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia.

Prime Minister Petkov reiterated that his country wants to encourage the export of electricity from Ukraine. Shmyhal said that Ukraine can export up to 2,000 MW of electricity to the EU, including Bulgaria.

Petkov also said that Bulgaria will be happy to join the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. He responded positively to Ukraine's request for repair of military equipment in Bulgaria, the Embassy said.