Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Genchovska in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Blinken

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Theodora Genchovska on January 4 took part in a telephone conversation between the Bucharest Nine Foreign Ministers and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The foreign minister shared general concerns about Ukraine's security, given the significant concentration of Russian troops on the border.

At the same time, Minister Genchovska stressed the need for reliable defence and deterrence on NATO's Eastern flank. The Allies expressed solidarity with Lithuania, given China's negative actions.

She welcomed diplomatic efforts to persuade Moscow to take measures to de-escalate through upcoming meetings in various formats - the US-Russia bilateral dialogue on strategic stability, the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE Permanent Council.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of eastern flank NATO Allies. The Secretary and Foreign Ministers discussed Russia’s destabilizing military buildup along Ukraine’s border; the need for a united, ready, and resolute NATO stance for the collective defense of Allies; and transatlantic cooperation on issues of shared concern. The Secretary stressed the U.S. commitment to continued close consultation and coordination with all of our Transatlantic Allies and partners as we work toward de-escalation through deterrence, defence, and dialogue. Blinken underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Transatlantic security and to NATO’s Article 5.