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Bulgaria and Ukraine

From Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

Bilateral relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria

1. Recognition of Ukraine: December 5, 1991.

2. Establishment of diplomatic relations: December 13, 1991.

3. Political relations:

At the level of Heads of State

• On February 19, 2022 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov within the framework of participation in the 58th Munich Conference on Security Issues and the signing of the Joint Declaration on the support of the European perspective of Ukraine.

• On March 5, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

April 18, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

• On March 26, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

• On March 13, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

• On June 22, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

Interparliamentary relations

• On April 5-6, 2022, People’s Deputies of Ukraine Yulia Grishina and Yehor Cherniev visited the Republic of Bulgaria.

• May 7-10, 2022 – visit to the Republic of Bulgaria Stepan Chernyavskyi, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

• May 14-19, 2022 – visit to the Republic of Bulgaria Yevhen Bragar, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

• April 28-May 31, 2022 – visit to the Republic of Bulgaria Anton Kisse, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

• April 24, 2023 – Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk held a meeting with the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov within the framework of the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the European Union.

• May 10-11, 2023 – visit to the Republic of Bulgaria , Tetiana Tsiba People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

At the level of Heads of Government

• March 9, 2022 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov.

• On April 28, 2022, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov paid an official visit to Kyiv as the head of a delegation of government officials and members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria.

At the level of Foreign Ministers

• On April 19-21, 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba visited the Republic of Bulgaria.

• On May 15, 2023 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria Mariya Gabriel.

4. Bilateral Treaty and Legal Framework

The main document regulating bilateral Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations is the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed on October 5, 1992.

Тhere are 102 valid bilateral documents between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, including interstate – 9, intergovernmental – 33, interdepartmental – 62.

The bilateral contractual and legal framework covers a wide range of issues related to Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations, including political cooperation, trade and economy, culture, etc.

5. Trade, economic and investment cooperation

Bulgaria is the important market for Ukraine’s products in the EU market where a traditional positive foreign trade surplus for our state is accumulated and is the biggest trade and economic partner of Ukraine within the Balkan region.

TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Bulgaria is the important market for Ukraine’s products in the EU market where a traditional positive foreign trade surplus for our state is accumulated and is the biggest trade and economic partner of Ukraine within the Balkan region.

Trade and economic cooperation

According to the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, for the period January-December 2022, the volume of trade in goods between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria amounted to 3.48 billion US dollars (↑230.4% compared to the same period in 2021), exports amounted to 1, 43 billion dollars. USA (↑158, 8%), imports amounted to 2.05 billion dollars. USA (↑335, 7%). The balance of foreign trade for Ukraine is negative and amounted to 627.9 million dollars. USA.

Two-thirds of Ukrainian exports to Bulgaria were rolled steel and steel semi-finished products, ferrous metals, as well as sunflower oil, sunflower seeds and other oil crops. In particular, the main items of Ukrainian commodity exports: rolled steel, ferrous metals and their products (32.7%), sunflower seeds and other oil crops (29.6%), sunflower oil and other vegetable oils (19.8%). equipment and mechanisms (5.9%), wood and wood products (1.7%)

The growth of Bulgarian exports in 2022 was due to increased supplies of diesel fuel and oil products to Ukraine, as well as “other” extremely important goods for Ukraine (in the amount of USD 900 million).

According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, the share of Ukraine in the structure of Bulgarian exports for 2022 reached 2.4%, and in the structure of imports – 3.16%.

In the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to Bulgaria in 2021 (official data for 2022 is not published), their main types were: transport services (63,0%), business services (15,8%), services in the field of telecommunications and information services (12,9%).

The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of export of services from Ukraine was 0.5%.

The Republic of Bulgaria ranks 18th among EU member states in the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to the EU.

In its turn, the main types of Ukrainian imports of services from Bulgaria were:

services related to travel (49,9%), transport services (40,9%), business services (4.9%).

The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of import of services to Ukraine was equal to 0,8%.

In total volumes of Ukrainian import of services from EU member states, Bulgaria ranks 15th place.

Investment cooperation

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2021 (new data for 2022 is not published), Bulgaria invested USD 100,7 million in the economy of Ukraine (equity instruments and debt instruments, balances by countries of the world). The largest volume of Bulgarian investments went into the sphere of wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles – 47,2 mln. US dollars, which is 54,4% of the total volume of Bulgarian investments.

Bulgarian investments also went into the following areas: agriculture, forestry and fisheries; construction; information and telecommunications, education; art, sports, entertainment and recreation; health care and provision of social assistance; provision of other types of services. However, information on the volume of investments in these areas is confidential in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On State Statistics» since investments in them came from no more than 2 business entities.

According to experts, Ukrainian investments in Bulgaria are aimed at the metallurgical sector, tourism business, construction and real estate trade, trade and repair.

To date, about 600 companies with Ukrainian capital are registered in Bulgaria. About 350 enterprises with the participation of Bulgarian capital and representative offices of Bulgarian companies are represented in Ukraine.

However, official statistics do not reflect the real state of investment cooperation since the majority of investments are made by Bulgarian and Ukrainian companies through third countries.

Among the positive examples of cooperation, it is worth noting the activity in Bulgaria of the Ukrainian IT company “SoftServe”, which is represented on the Bulgarian market by its own Software Development Centre in the city of Sofia and is included in the list of the best outsourcing companies in the world.

The Ukrainian-Bulgarian Joint intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation remains an important mechanism of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation in the economic and investment spheres.

The Honorary Consuls of Ukraine in Ruse, Plovdiv and Burgas, the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry (BUIK) in Sofia, as well as the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Varna represent Ukrainian business interests in Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria, the BUIK electronic Bulletin is published on a regular basis, which includes export and investment offers of Ukrainian regions and individual companies, image, tourist, and positional materials.

Cooperation in the transport and tourism spheres

It should be noted the effective cooperation in recent years in the transport and tourism spheres.

The active development of cooperation between the two states is facilitated by the presence of direct regular air connections between Kyiv and Sofia. Meantime, when several Ukrainian, Bulgarian and international aviation companies have the right to carry out direct passenger and cargo transportation between the two states, the regular direct flights are postponed in view of russian military invasion in Ukraine.

On August 10, 2020, a modern ferry complex was put into operation in Ukraine in the village of Orlivka, Reniy district, Odesa region, with an international checkpoint across the state border between the settlements of Orlivka (Ukraine) – Isaccia (Romania), which shortens the transport connection between Ukraine and Bulgaria.

The ferry crossing provided a direct exit from the south of the Odesa region to the European Union, shortening the journey by 200 km, and the time for cargo clearance – by 10-12 hours. On February 12, 2021, the ferry complex Orlivka (Ukraine) – Isaccia (Romania) officially started passenger transportation.

The introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens to travel to the EU іn 2017, gave an additional positive impetus to tourism cooperation between the two states.

According to the results of 2021, Bulgaria was visited by 250 039 tourists from Ukraine, which is 85.0% more than the same figure in 2020. In terms of the number of tourists, Ukraine was in the top five and ranked 5th among the countries of the world that visit the Republic of Bulgaria, overtaking such countries as Romania, Turkey, Germany and Greece.

In the wartime the cooperation on the tourism track is postponed.

Interregional cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria

6. Interregional cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria

The issue of regional cooperation is an important component of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation. The aforementioned contributes to the establishment of direct contacts between regions, cities of Ukraine and municipalities of the Republic of Bulgaria, business circles of the countries, intensification of trade and economic interaction, activation of people-to-people contacts, development of relations in the fields of education, science, culture, tourism and in the field of local self-government.

Тhe following agreements on interregional cooperation were signed between the regions of Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria:

– Agreement on friendship and cooperation between the Kyiv Regional State Administration and the Administration of Sofia Region (March 23, 1995);

– Agreement on the main principles and directions for the development of partnership relations between the Poltava Regional State Administration and the Administration of the Veliko Tаrnovо Region (June 30, 1995);

– Agreement on cooperation between the Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration and the Burgas Region Administration (December 10, 1998);

– Agreement between Kharkiv Regional State Administration and Plovdiv Regional State Administration on trade, economic, scientific, technical and socio-cultural cooperation (April 2, 2001);

– Agreement between the Luhansk Regional State Administration and the Haskovo Regional Administration on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation (April 30, 2002) – suspended;

– Agreement on cooperation between the Odesa Regional State Administration and the Varna Region Administration (May 24, 2003);

– Framework agreement between the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration and the Pleven Regional Administration on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation (March 29, 2005);

– Agreement on cooperation between the Odesa Regional State Administration and Ruse Regional Administration (June 2, 2006);

– Agreement on cooperation between the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukraine and the Burgas Regional Administration (November 26, 2010) – suspended;

– Agreement on trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the Poltava Regional State Administration and the Veliko Tarnovo Region (August 21, 2013);

– Agreement on cooperation between Konotop and Mezdra (May 9, 2023).

Sister relations have been established between the cities of Kyiv and Sofia, Kharkiv and Varna, Odesa and Varna, Glukhiv and Svishtov, Berdyansk and Yambol, Zalishchyki and Nova Zagora, Zhytomyr and Montana, Zaporizhzhia and Burgas, Lutsk and Pazarzhik, Sevastopol and Nessebar (suspended), Chernihiv and Gorna Oryahovitsa, Kirovohrad and Dobrich, Luhansk and Pernik, Rivne and Vidin, Simferopol and Ruse (suspended), Sumy and Vratsa, Ternopil and Sliven, Kherson and Shumen, Khmelnytskyi and Silistra, Shostka and Oryahovo, Konotop and Mezdra, Putivl and Kozloduy , Glukhiv and Kryvodol, Bilopol and Mizia, Mykolaiv and Pleven, Myrhorod and Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bolgrad and Tirgovishte, Bila Tserkva and Stara Zagora, Lviv and Plovdiv, etc.

7. Scientific and technical and educational cooperation between Ukraine and Bulgaria

Ukrainian-Bulgarian scientific and technical cooperation is carried out on the basis of the Agreement between the Ministry of Science and Technology of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of scientific and technical cooperation dated March 24, 1998.

Among the positive examples of cooperation, it is worth noting the activity of the Ukrainian IT company “SoftServe”, which is represented on the Bulgarian market by its own software development centre and is included in the list of the best outsourcing companies in the world.

In addition, the energy sphere is gradually becoming the leading direction of development of scientific and technical cooperation between the two states.

Bulgaria, like Ukraine, continues to operate VVER-type reactors at its own nuclear power plants. In this regard, Ukrainian companies regularly fulfil orders within the framework of the modernization of the Kozloduy NPP.

In 2017-2019, teachers at Sofia University “St. Klyment Ohridskyi”, the Institute of Energy Management and the Diplomatic Institute under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria implemented the “Energy Diplomacy” project in higher educational institutions of Ukraine, in particular, Kyiv, Odessa, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kherson. The project was supported by the US government.

During the implementation of the project, lectures were held in 16 higher educational institutions of Ukraine. In total, the project involved about 840 Ukrainian students, scientists, experts and media representatives.

The direction of modernization of the energy sector of the two states, aimed at introducing the latest technologies and increasing the efficiency of existing capacities, looks promising. Significant unrealized potential for cooperation is found in the fields of using solar and renewable energy, energy saving, increasing the supply of Ukrainian biofuel to the Bulgarian market, as well as in the field of modern technologies and telecommunications. The prospect of construction of sewage treatment plants and waste disposal and processing projects in Ukraine deserves special attention.

8.Cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria

Cooperation between Ukraine and Bulgaria in the cultural and humanitarian spheres is traditionally an important component of relations between the two countries.

During 2022 – the first half of 2023 the projects implemented in Bulgaria were aimed both at informing Bulgarian society about the catastrophic consequences of russia’s war against Ukraine and the Kremlin’s criminal actions, as well as at promoting our country and its European culture.

Conveying the truth about russia’s war against Ukraine was the main goal of a number of art and photo exhibitions (“russia must stop its bloody aggression against Ukraine”, “Stop russia’s aggression against Ukraine”, exposition for the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, “100 Days Of russian WoARld”, “Creative Resistance”, “Postcards from Ukraine”, “Year of Resilience”, “Icons on ammo boxes”).

For the same purpose, several film screenings were organized and supported (special Ukrainian programs “Look at Ukraine with other eyes!” and “Ukraine: Chronicle of Pain” within the OKO – International Ethnographic Film Festival, screenings of the documentary film “Mariupol. Hope is not lost”, “Mr.Jones”, “A House Made of Splinters”, “SUPERPOWER”).

Resumption of Ukraine’s participation in the most popular international jazz festival in Bulgaria “Bansko Jazz Festival” (6.08.2022) and the Sofia International Book Fair (6-11.12.2022), the first participation in the international literary festival “Night of Literature” (7.09.2022), The Sofia Science Festival (October 8-9, 2022 and May 11-14, 2023) and the international literary event “Poetry in the Subway” (November 15, 2022) contributed to increasing the presence of our state at important international cultural venues in Bulgaria.

Under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska the Embassy and the Books and Children Foundation implemented the project “Present a book to a Ukrainian child”, within the framework of which a charity fundraising campaign was organized. As the result – more than 6,000 books from Ukrainian publishers were printed and distributed in Bulgaria among Ukrainian children-temporary immigrants.

With the organization and support of the Embassy in Bulgaria, three “Ukrainian bookshelves” have been opened – in the Sofia Library, in the Regional Library “Peyo Yavorov” in Burgas and in the People’s Library “Ivan Vazov” in Plovdiv. This project is implemented worldwide under the patronage of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.

In addition, as part of the campaign “Ukrainian books for Ukrainian children”, the Embassy provided books for a number of public organizations with the aim of starting Ukrainian shelves/libraries.

UKRAINIANS IN BULGARIA

Ukrainian Community in Bulgaria

The resettlement of Ukrainians to Bulgaria began in the early 19th century. According to the latest population census of 2011, 1.79 thousand ethnic Ukrainians lived in Bulgaria. Places of residence: Sofia, Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Pleven, Dobrich.

In 2013, the united all-Bulgarian public organization “Union of Ukrainian Organizations of Bulgaria “Mother Ukraine”” (SUOB), headed by Olena Kotseva, was registered in Bulgaria (https://www.facebook.com/MatiUkraine ). The Union includes the following public organizations in Bulgaria: Foundation “Mother Ukraine” (Sofia), “Diaspora-Ukraine” (Burgas), “Ukrainian-Bulgarian Society “Plovdiv” (Plovdiv).

There are also the public organizations “Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria “Ukrainian Diaspora” and “Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria “Ukrainian House” in Varna (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081182178905 )

Ensuring the rights and interests of Ukrainian and other minorities in Bulgaria is determined by the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, to which Bulgaria joined in 1999. Bulgarian legislation does not provide for the national minorities the possibility of self-government. That deprives the Ukrainian community of the opportunity not only to enjoy certain preferences from the state, but also to apply for state financing of their activities.

Mass media of the Ukrainian community

One of the two Ukrainian-language mass media in Bulgaria is the website “Ukrainski Vesti/Bolgarski Vesti” (the first name is “Ukraine Press”), http://www.ukrpressbg.com , which appeared in June 1998. It is a private project, although it is considered as a tribune of the Ukrainian diaspora in Bulgaria. The editor-in-chief is Vasyl Zhukivskyi.

Another Ukrainian-language resource that started its work in 2017 is the website www.ukr.bg . This is a news platform where, in addition to publications about key events in Ukraine and Bulgaria, current information about the city of Burgas and the Burgas region is provided.

Educational and cultural centers of Ukrainians

The Ukrainian Sunday school in Sofia was established under Foundation “Mother Ukraine” in 2002. The first class was held on November 14, 2002. According to journalist V.Zhukivskyi, such a school was established for the first time in Bulgaria after 1944. However, due to the lack of funding and the required number of students, the Sunday school was closed.

Since September 2022, the Educational Hub has been working in Sofia (https://www.facebook.com/EducationalHUBSofia ), where more than 200 Ukrainians study according to the standards of the Ukrainian educational system.

Education   and meetings for Ukrainian children are also held in various centers:

At the Faculty of Philology of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski there is the Department of Ukrainian Studies that provides the possibility for students to study Ukrainian language (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075600684779 ).

russia’s war against Ukraine

As a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, more than 1 347 000 citizens of Ukraine entered the territory of Bulgaria, more than 160 000 Ukrainians received temporary protection and more than 67,000 Ukrainians remained on the territory of Bulgaria (information as of June 2023).

Citizens of Ukraine who have received temporary protection in Bulgaria have the right to work, professional training, education, social assistance, medical assistance and housing assistance. More detailed information can be found on the government portal “Bulgaria for Ukraine” – https://ukraine.gov.bg/ua/ .

The Ukrainian community in Bulgaria actively helps both in the matter of sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and in helping temporary refugees from Ukraine who needed to stay in Bulgaria. Volunteer centers have been created at Union of Ukrainian Organizations of Bulgaria “Mother Ukraine” (SUOB) in Sofia (https://www.facebook.com/MatiUkraine ), “Union of Ukrainians in Bulgaria “Ukrainian Home” in Varna (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081182178905 ), charity foundation “Ukraine Support&Renovation” in Plovdiv (https://www.facebook.com/support.ukraine.bg ).

Useful groups on the Facebook network

Help for Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria – https://www.facebook.com/groups/338927668246444

Ukrainians in Bulgaria – https://www.facebook.com/groups/311986819925/?hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen&multi_permalinks=10159116127434926

Education and leisure time of Ukrainian refugee children – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018257459041462

Housing for Ukrainians – https://www.facebook.com/groups/303333551942047/ .

Ukrainians in Sofia – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082210695123292/members .

Job for Ukrainians – https://www.facebook.com/groups/2019541408266750

10. Diplomatic mission:

Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria https://bulgaria.mfa.gov.ua/

The Ukrainian and Bulgarian peoples are related not only by their Slavic origin, ethnic and linguistic proximity, but also by a common historical fate, centuries-old relations in religious, cultural, economic, social and political life. Ukrainians participated in the Polish-Hungarian army of King Wladyslaw in the battle near Varna against the Turks in 1444.

The spirit of Cossack freedom beckoned Bulgarians fleeing Turkish slavery to Zaporizhzhya Sich. In 1762, a Bulgarian hussar regiment was even created as part of the Zaporozhian army.

During the liberation of the Bulgarian people from Ottoman slavery in 1878, history inextricably linked the destinies of the two peoples in the battles for the freedom of the Bulgarian land.

Bulgaria also became one of the first countries to recognize the Ukrainian People’s Republic in 1918, when both sides opened diplomatic missions.

Ukraine became the homeland of the world’s largest Bulgarian diaspora. According to the 2001 population census, about 204,600 people of Bulgarian origin live on its territory.

Bulgaria was one of the first countries to respond to the restoration of Ukraine’s independence and recognized Ukraine as an independent state on December 5, 1991, and established diplomatic relations with it on December 13 of the same year.

The foundations of good-neighborly Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations were laid in such an international legal document as the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed on October 5, 1992.

Bulgaria actively supports the course of European integration reforms and the agenda of the Ukraine-EU dialogue. It was the fourth EU member state to ratify the Association Agreement in 2014. New opportunities for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were provided by the introduction of a deep and comprehensive free trade zone with the EU.

Relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria are dynamically developing in the spirit of trust, good neighborliness and strategic partnership within the framework of both bilateral and regional and international organizations, such as BSEC, CEI, OSCE, Council of Europe, UN. They are aimed at ensuring support and mutually beneficial cooperation and establishing security and stability in the Black Sea region. The parties are taking measures to deepen cooperation in the trade-economic, security, defense-industrial, educational, scientific and other spheres.

The Republic of Bulgaria supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, condemned the so-called “referendum” in Crimea in March 2014 and became a co-author of UN General Assembly resolutions “Territorial integrity of Ukraine” (2014) and “Situation with human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol” (2014-2021), as well as on Russia’s militarization of Crimea, the Black and Azov Seas (2018-2021). Bulgaria became a co-author and supported the resolutions of the UN General Assembly “Aggression against Ukraine” dated March 2, 2022 and “Humanitarian consequences of aggression against Ukraine” dated March 24, 2022.

The Republic of Bulgaria, as an EU member state, supports the EU’s consolidated position regarding the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation due to the large-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine. The leadership of the Republic of Bulgaria declares its support for the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and condemns the Kremlin’s aggressive policy.

Supplies
  • Unspecified number of clothes, shoes, tents, sheets, blankets.[37]
  • 350 medical kits, 5000 sets of winter clothes and 5000 winter shoes.[38]
  • Bulgarian fundraising campaign for humanitarian aid by the Bulgarian Red Cross in co-operation with the Bulgarian government has raised £470,000 for humanitarian aid in 3 days. The cargo includes warm clothes and blankets, winter footwear, bed linen and hygiene products.[39]
Equipment Humanitarian aid
  • £706,000 of humanitarian aid (April 2022) [41]
Aid to refugees
  • £181,000 to support Ukrainian refugees.[41]

On 3 November 2022, the Bulgarian Parliament approved a decision to provide military aid, with details to come out by the next month.[37]

Military-technical support

  • Military-technical support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (which includes repairing Ukrainian military vehicles and equipment) [from May 2022 onwards].[38]

Tanks

  • BulgariaCzech Republic Undisclosed number of T-72M1s [May or June 2022] (Purchased from Bulgaria and delivered to Ukraine via the Czech Republic)[39]

Armoured personnel carriers (APCs)

  • About 100 BTR [To be delivered].[40]

Multiple rocket launchers

  • BulgariaCzech Republic Undisclosed number of 122mm BM-21 Grad [May or June 2022] (Purchased from Bulgaria and delivered to Ukraine via the Czech Republic).[39][41]

Ammunition

  • 152mm artillery shells [delivered from April 2022 onwards][38][42]
  • 122mm artillery shells [To be delivered].[41]
  • 155mm artillery shells [delivered from March 2023 onwards] (Purchased from Bulgaria by US)[43]

Miscellaneous

  • Diesel fuel [delivered from April 2022 onwards].[38]

Training

  • Planned to appoint 50 of their military personnel to annually train 60 Ukrainian combat medics.[44]

Political cooperation

At the level of heads of state

• An important stage in the establishment of bilateral relations was the official visit to Ukraine of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Zh.Zhelev on December 8-10, 1994.

• In March 1998, the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma paid an official visit to Bulgaria.

• On May 14-15, 1999, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria P. Stoyanov took part in the VI informal meeting of the heads of state of Central Europe in Lviv.

• On June 9-10, 1999, the head of the Bulgarian state P. Stoyanov visited Ukraine on an official visit.

• On September 10-11, 1999, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria P. Stoyanov took part in the Baltic-Black Sea Summit in Yalta.

• On September 4-5, 2001, the state visit of the President of Ukraine L. Kuchma to Bulgaria took place.

• On January 30 – February 1, 2003 – the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov to Ukraine.

• On January 28, 2005, the President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov as part of the solemn events dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the fascist concentration camp “Auschwitz-Birkenau” in Auschwitz.

• On May 19, 2006, the President of Ukraine V.Yushchenko met with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H.Pyrvanov within the framework of participation in the 13th informal meeting of the heads of states of Central Europe in Varna.

• On December 1, 2010 – bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Yanukovych with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria H. Pirvanov within the framework of the OSCE Summit in Astana.

• On June 12, 2013 – bilateral meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine V. Yanukovych and Bulgaria R. Plevneliev within the framework of the 18th Summit of the Heads of the Central European States (Bratislava).

• On June 3, 2014 – bilateral meeting of the Presidents of Ukraine P. Poroshenko and R. Plevneliev of Bulgaria within the framework of the events on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of democratic transformations in Poland (Warsaw).

• On July 7-8, 2015 – official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev to Ukraine.

• On April 26, 2016 – working visit to Ukraine by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev.

• On June 30, 2016 – the official visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko to the Republic of Bulgaria.

• On September 19, 2017 – bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine P.O. Poroshenko with the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Radev within the framework of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly (New York).

• On May 10, 2018 – bilateral meeting of the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko with Prime Minister B.Borisov in Aachen, Germany.

• On October 5, 2018 – joint working visit of the President of Ukraine P.Poroshenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov to Odesk region.

• On May 20, 2019 – meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria M. Nikolova as part of the inaugural events.

• On February 19, 2022 – the meeting of the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov within the framework of participation in the 58th Munich Conference on Security Issues and the signing of the Joint Declaration on the support of the European perspective of Ukraine.

• On March 5, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

April 18, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

• On March 26, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

• On March 13, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

• On June 22, 2022 – telephone conversation between the President of Ukraine V. Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

Interparliamentary relations

On November 28-30, 1995, the official visit to Ukraine of the Bulgarian parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the People’s Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Sendov took place.

• On June 2-4, 2003, the Chairman of the People’s Assembly of the Bulgaria O. Gerdzhikov was on an official visit to Ukraine.

• On January 26, 2004, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.

• On September 7, 2005, within the framework of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine V. Lytvyn met with the Chairman of the State Assembly of the Bulgaria H. Pyrynskyi.

• On September 13-14, 2010, the Chairman of the People’s Assembly of the Bulgaria Ts. Tsacheva was on an official visit to Ukraine.

• On February 1, 2015, the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, O. Syroid, during a working visit to the Republic of Bulgaria, held a meeting with the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Ts. Tsacheva.

• On April 5-6, 2022, People’s Deputies of Ukraine Y. Mishina and E. Chernev visited Bulgaria.

• May 7-10, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria S. Chernyavskyi, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

• April 28-May 31, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria A. Kisse, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

• May 14-19, 2022 – visit to Bulgaria E. Bragar, People’s Deputy of Ukraine.

At the level of heads of government

• On July 23-24, 1996, the Prime Minister of Ukraine P. Lazarenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.

• On October 30-31, 1997, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kostov made an official visit to Ukraine.

• On July 28-29, 2000, the Prime Minister of Ukraine V. A. Yushchenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.

• On May 21-24, 2004, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Sakskoburggotsky visited Kyiv on an official visit.

• On January 14, 2009, talks between the Prime Minister of Ukraine Yu. Tymoshenko and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Stanishev regarding the resolution of the gas conflict with Russia and ensuring gas transit to Europe took place in Kyiv.

On September 1, 2009, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Y. Tymoshenko met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov in the city of Gdansk as part of events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War

• September 25, 2014 a bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of Ukraine A. P. Yatsenyuk and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Plevneliev took place within the framework of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (New York).

• On May 26-27, 2018, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria B. Borisov visited Ukraine on a working visit.

• March 9, 2022 – telephone conversation between the Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov.

• On April 28, 2022, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Petkov paid an official visit to Kyiv at the head of a delegation of government officials and members of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.

At the level of foreign ministers

• On November 19-20, 1995, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine H. Udovenko paid an official visit to Bulgaria.

• On November 12-13, 1998, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mihailova was on an official visit to Kyiv.

• On November 28, 2000, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, A. Zlenka, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, N. Mihailova, within the framework of the 8th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE in Vienna (Austria).

• On January 24, 2001, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Zlenko met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mihailova in Munich.

• On September 28, 2003, a meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi took place within the framework of the UN General Assembly meeting.

• On December 1, 2003, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi within the framework of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the OSCE (Maastricht).

• On April 14, 2004, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko made an official visit to Bulgaria.

• On September 22, 2004, within the framework of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K. Hryshchenko met with the Chairman of the OSCE, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi.

• On January 23-24, 2005, the delegation of the Republic of Bulgaria headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria S. Pasi was in Ukraine in connection with the participation in the inauguration ceremony of the President of Ukraine V. Yushchenko.

• On September 17, 2005, within the framework of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B. Tarasyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin.

• On November 29-30, 2005, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin paid an official visit to Ukraine.

• On April 29, 2006, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine B. Tarasyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin within the framework of the stay of the Ukrainian delegation in Sofia.

• On September 25, 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Yatsenyuk met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

• On November 27, 2007, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine A. Yatsenyuk met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the meeting of the heads of governments of the CEI member states in Sofia.

• On April 22, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria.

• On September 23, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

• On November 28, 2008, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine V. Ogryzko met with the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria I. Kalfin during the Summit of the Heads of Government of the countries participating in the Central European Initiative (CEI).

• On December 6, 2011, Vilnius – bilateral meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine K.Hryshchenko and the Republic of Bulgaria N. Mladenov within the framework of the 18th meeting of the OSCE Regional Council.

• On November 12, 2013, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Vigenin made an official visit to Ukraine.

• On March 4, 2014, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria K. Vigenin visited Ukraine.

• On June 25, 2014 – bilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Bulgaria P. Klimkin and K. Vigenin (Brussels)

• On September 23, 2014 – a bilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P.Klimkin and D. Mitov of Bulgaria took place within the framework of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (New York)

• On February 16, 2015 – official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin to the Republic of Bulgaria

• On July 5-6, 2015, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin and D. Mitov of Bulgaria paid a joint working visit to the Odesa region.

• On May 17-18, 2016, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine P. Klimkin took part in the 126th Ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Sofia and held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria D. Mitov.

• On September 17-20, 2020 – official visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria E. Zakhariyeva to Ukraine.

• On April 20, 2021 – telephone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D. Kuleba and the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria E. Zakhariyeva;

• On August 23-25, 2021 – S. Stoyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria paid a visit to Ukraine and took part in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimean Platform, in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine and in the events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the day of the foundation of the city of Bolgrad.

• On April 19-21, 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine D.Kuleba visited Bulgaria on a working visit.

Bilateral Treaty and Legal Framework

           List of current international agreements between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria

           The main document regulating bilateral Ukrainian-Bulgarian relations is the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed on October 5, 1992.

           Тhere are 100 valid bilateral documents between Ukraine and Bulgaria, including interstate – 9, intergovernmental – 32, interdepartmental – 59.

           The bilateral treaty and legal framework covers a wide range of issues related to Ukraine- Bulgaria relations, including political cooperation, trade and economy, legal assistance, humanitarian issues.

           Among the key documents are:

  • Protocol on establishing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria,
  • Protocol on establishing consular relations between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria,
  • Agreement on friendly relations and cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria, Agreement between the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria on bilateral cooperation,
  • Declaration between the Ministry of External Economic Relations of Ukraine and the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Bulgaria on the principles and directions of partnership and cooperation in the field of trade and economic relations,
  • Agreement between the Ministry of Education of Ukraine and the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Bulgaria,
  • Declaration on further development and deepening of cooperation between Ukraine and the Republic of Bulgaria,
  • Agreement between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria on cooperation in the field of health care and medical science,
  • Protocol between the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria on cooperation in the field of culture,
  • Declaration on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of European and Euro-Atlantic integration,
  • Memorandum on partnership and deepening of cooperation in the field of European and Euro-Atlantic integration between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Trade, economic and investment cooperation of Ukraine with Bulgaria

Bulgaria is an important market for Ukraine’s products in the EU where a traditional positive foreign trade surplus for our state is accumulated and is the biggest trade and economic partner of Ukraine in the Balkan region. 

Trade and economic cooperation

Bulgaria’s share in the general structure of Ukrainian goods export amounts nowadays to 1,23%, and in the structure of Ukraine’s general goods import reaches to 0,74%.

In the years 2017-2019, general volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria demonstrated annual growth at over 20%. According to the results of 2019, the general volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria exceeded for the first time over the last decade 1 bn. US dollars.

During 2021, Bulgaria has been the 12th export market of Ukrainian goods products among 27 EU country members and the 14th import market of goods products to Ukraine.

In its turn, Ukraine comes into the 8 main trade partners of Bulgaria, the share of which amounted in 2021 to 59,0% from the total merchandise export of the Republic of Bulgaria in the mentioned period.    

According to data of the State statistical service of Ukraine for 2021, the general volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Bulgaria exceeded for the third consecutive year 1 bn. US dollars and reached a record level of 1,5 bn. US dollars. The traditional positive surplus in merchandise and services trade in 2021 to the benefit of Ukraine was 289,2 ml. U.S. dollars.   

In addition, the export of Ukrainian goods to Bulgaria in 2021 increased by 163,3% compared to 2020 and amounted to 835,3 mln. U.S. dollars. In turn, export of Bulgarian goods to Ukraine increased by 187,0% and amounted to 542,0 mln. U.S. dollars. The positive surplus in merchandise trade to the benefit of Ukraine was 293,3 mln. US dollars.

Bulgaria’s share in in the general structure of foreign trade in goods of Ukraine with all the countries of the world amounts nowadays to 0,98%.

The growth of Ukrainian exports of goods in 2021 was mainly due to the increase in supplies of ferrous metals and products made from them. The growth in imports from Bulgaria is explained by the increase in supplies of gasoline and petroleum products to the Ukrainian market.

The main items of Ukrainian commodity exports: ferrous metals and their products (62.5%), railway locomotives and their parts (3.7%), plastics and polymeric materials (3,1%), fertilizers (2,9%), wood and wood products (2,7%), inorganic chemical products (2,1%), oil seeds and fruits (1,7%), soft drinks and vinegar (1,8%), paper and cardboard (1,7%), cocoa and its products (1,6%), etc.

The share of Bulgaria in the total structure of goods exports of Ukraine is 1,23%.

During 2021, among the 27 EU member states, Bulgaria was the 12th export market for Ukrainian goods.

The main items of Ukrainian import of goods from Bulgaria in 2021 were: mineral fuels, oil and petroleum products (30,4%), fertilizers (11,3%), equipment for nuclear power plants (7,1%), pharmaceutical products (6,3%), ferrous metal products from them (5,0%), electrical machines and mechanisms (4,6%), plastics and polymeric materials (3,7%), essential oils (2,5%), glass and glass products (2,4%), soap, surface-active organic substances (2,1%), etc.

The share of Bulgaria in the total structure of goods imports of Ukraine is 0,74%.

Among the 27 EU member states, Bulgaria was the 14th import market of commodity products to Ukraine in 2021.

In 2021, trade in services between the two states developed actively.

The volume of bilateral trade in services between the two countries in 2021 amounted to 134,5 mln. US dollars. At the same time, the volume of exports of Ukrainian services to Bulgaria increased by 135,3% and amounted to 65,2 mln. US dollars, and similar indicators of Bulgarian exports of services to our country increased by 256,3% and equals to 69,3 mln. dollars USA. The positive balance in trade in services in favour of Bulgaria amounted to 4,1 mln. dollars USA.

In the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to Bulgaria in 2021, their main types were: transport services (63,0%), business services (15,8%), services in the field of telecommunications, computer and information services (12,9%) .

The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of export of services from Ukraine was 0.5%.

The Republic of Bulgaria ranks 18th among EU member states in the structure of Ukrainian exports of services to the EU.

In turn, the main types of Ukrainian imports of services from Bulgaria were: services related to travel (49,9%), transport services (40,9%), business services (4.9%).

The share of Bulgaria in the geographical structure of import of services to Ukraine was equal to 0,8%.

In total volumes of Ukrainian import of services from EU member states, Bulgaria ranks 15th place.

According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, as of the first quarter of 2022, the total volume of foreign trade in goods between Ukraine and Bulgaria amounted to 370,3 mln. US dollars (666.6 million BGN).

At the same time, the volume of Ukrainian exports of goods to the Republic of Bulgaria increased by 56.0% compared to the same period in 2021 and amounted to 272.3 mln. US dollars (490,1 mln. BGN). In turn, the volume of Bulgarian commodity exports to Ukraine during the specified period increased by 42,7% and equaled to 98,0 mln. US dollars (176.5 mln. BGN). The positive balance in goods trade in favour of Ukraine amounted to 174,3 mln. US dollars (313.6 mln. BGN).

Investment cooperation between the countries is actively developing.

According to the National Bank of Ukraine, as of December 31, 2021, Bulgaria invested USD 100,7 million in the economy of Ukraine (equity instruments and debt instruments, balances by countries of the world). The largest volume of Bulgarian investments went into the sphere of wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles – 47,2 mln. US dollars, which is 54,4% of the total volume of Bulgarian investments.

Bulgarian investments also went into the following areas: agriculture, forestry and fisheries; construction; information and telecommunications; education; art, sports, entertainment and recreation; health care and provision of social assistance; provision of other types of services. However, information on the volume of investments in these areas is confidential in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On State Statistics”, since investments in them came from no more than 2 business entities.

According to experts, Ukrainian investments in Bulgaria are aimed at the metallurgical sector, tourism business, construction and real estate trade, trade and repair.

To date, about 600 companies with Ukrainian capital are registered in Bulgaria. About 350 enterprises with the participation of Bulgarian capital and representative offices of Bulgarian companies are represented in Ukraine. However, official statistics do not reflect the real state of investment cooperation, since the majority of investments are made by Bulgarian and Ukrainian companies through third countries.

Among the positive examples of cooperation, it is worth noting the activity in Bulgaria of the Ukrainian IT company “SoftServe”, which is represented on the Bulgarian market by its own Software Development Centre in the city of Sofia and is included in the list of the best outsourcing companies in the world.

Ukrainian-Bulgarian business forums are organized annually in Bulgaria (November 27, 2018, Burgas; October 18, 2019, Varna).

In 2020, a similar event was planned to be held in Plovdiv, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the format of the event was transformed into an online business conference on the Zoom platform.

On July 7, 2021, the online business forum “Ukraine – Bulgaria: opportunities for cooperation between Ukrainian and Bulgarian business during global changes” took place. The event was organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the Embassies of Ukraine and Bulgaria in Sofia and Kyiv, with the participation of the business circles of the two countries.

During the Forums, the economic and investment potential of the regions of Ukraine is presented, as well as successful examples of bilateral trade, economic and investment cooperation are cited. Business meetings are held in the “B2B” format.

The Ukrainian-Bulgarian Joint intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation remains an important mechanism of Ukrainian-Bulgarian cooperation in the economic and investment spheres.

The Honorary Consuls of Ukraine in Ruse, Plovdiv and Burgas, the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry (BUIK) in Sofia, as well as the Bulgarian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in Varna are ready to represent Ukrainian business interests in Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria, the BUIK electronic Bulletin is published on a regular basis, which includes export and investment offers of Ukrainian regions and individual companies, image, tourist and positional materials.

Cooperation in the transport and tourism spheres

It should be noted the effective cooperation in recent years in the transport and tourism spheres.

The active development of cooperation between the two states is facilitated by the presence of direct regular air connections between Kyiv and Sofia. To date, several Ukrainian, Bulgarian and international aviation companies have the right to carry out direct passenger and cargo transportation between the two states. We have a regular direct flight between Kyiv and Sofia.

On August 10, 2020, a modern ferry complex was put into operation in Ukraine in the village of Orlivka, Reniy district, Odesa region, with an international checkpoint across the state border between the settlements of Orlivka (Ukraine) – Isaccia (Romania), which shortens the transport connection between Ukraine and Bulgaria.

The ferry crossing provided a direct exit from the south of the Odesa region to the European Union, shortening the journey by 200 km, and the time for cargo clearance – by 10-12 hours. On February 12, 2021, the ferry complex Orlivka (Ukraine) – Isaccia (Romania) officially started passenger transportation.

In 2017, the introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens to travel to the EU gave an additional positive impetus to tourism cooperation between the two states.

Bulgaria became one of the first EU member states to open its borders to Ukrainian citizens when the current epidemiological situation improved somewhat. It is in our interests to promote the restoration of active cooperation in the tourism sector.

According to the results of 2021, Bulgaria was visited by 250 039 tourists from Ukraine, which is 85.0% more than the same figure in 2020. In terms of the number of tourists, Ukraine is in the top five and ranks 5th among the countries of the world that visit the Republic of Bulgaria, overtaking such countries as Romania, Turkey, Germany and Greece.

The importance of Ukrainian tourists for the Bulgarian economy is becoming more obvious to the Bulgarian leadership, which has a certain positive resonance in the Bulgarian society.

Trade in goods and services with Bulgaria in 2014 – 2022 in accordance with the State statistical service of Ukraine (mln. US dollars) 

Year

2014

2015

2016

2017

 2018

2019

2020

2021

1st quarter of 2022

(trade in goods only)

General trade turnover

849,3

734,9

638,0

649,9

812,3

1007,6

872,3

1511,8

370,3

Export

589,6

462,8

445,0

448,5

538,5

521,4

555,4

900,5

272,3

Import

259,7

272,1

193,0

201,4

273,8

486,2

316,9

611,3

98,0

Surplus

+ 329,9

+190,7

+252,0

+247,1

+264,7

+35,2

+238,5

+289,2

+174,3

 

OPERATION UKRAINE – 2024