Demining the Black Sea is a common challenge of the four countries

Demining the Black Sea is a common challenge for Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov discussed further actions regarding demining the Black Sea with Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

As Ukrinform writes, the parties discussed the possibilities of future demining projects in the waters of the Black Sea using the forces and means available today in Bulgaria and Ukraine.

“We talked a lot about prospects, because our common interest, at least four countries — Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey — regarding the security of the Black Sea, because it is a matter of a common future. This is a question of freedom of navigation, this is a question of cooperation between neighboring countries in order to provide the civilized world with opportunities that all four countries are producing today,” said Reznikov.

The minister reminded that Ukraine has already received two minesweepers from Britain, on which teams are trained under the flag of Ukraine. After the victory, according to the Montreux Convention, the ships will be able to return to the Black Sea.

In turn, Bulgarian Defense Minister Teodor Tagarev noted that demining is a long-term task of Bulgarian naval villages within the territorial waters of the Republic of Bulgaria.

“We are currently discussing the need for increased cooperation between states and how, after the end of the war, we will make sure that the main routes of sea communication are clear of mines and safe. We are also discussing how we can work in this direction,” said Tagarev.