European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday stressed that freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored and preserved, as security threats and attacks in the region continue to escalate.
“Freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored and preserved,” von der Leyen said in a statement following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of her visit to Romania and Bulgaria.
She said she would meet with leaders in the two countries to discuss the situation on the ground and ways to strengthen Europe’s response to growing security threats in the Black Sea region.
Von der Leyen also reiterated her support for Zelenskyy’s call for a ceasefire covering food and energy infrastructure.
The two leaders discussed ongoing peace efforts and talks scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi this week, where the EU will be present alongside its partners, she said.
Von der Leyen added that she looked forward to meeting Zelenskyy in Dublin later this week to discuss the next steps toward peace with fellow leaders.
Since early October, drones have struck at least nine merchant vessels off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the Black Sea.