Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he is grateful to Bulgaria for not extending restrictions on Ukrainian grain imports from September 15.
"I thank [Prime Minister] Nikolai Denkov and his team, as well as Bulgarian parliamentarians who supported this move. Bulgaria sets an example of true solidarity," Zelenskiy said on X, formerly Twitter.
Bulgaria's parliament approved on September 14 a decision to lift the ban on Ukrainian grain imports.
Bulgaria was among five EU countries that imposed a ban on grain imports from Ukraine, citing the need to protect local agricultural sectors.
The European Commission approved the temporary restrictions, which are due to expire on September 15. Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia insist that the current ban be extended by the commission and threaten to unilaterally take action if their demands are not met.
The restrictions imposed in May allowed Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia to ban domestic sales of Ukrainian wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seeds, while permitting transit of such cargoes for export elsewhere.
