Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov outlined Bulgaria's leading role as co-chair of the Working Group No. 8 "Environmental Security" of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during an international forum on the occasion of the presentation of the priorities of the initiative, which was held on 21 November at the Boyana Residence.

The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia and the Ministry of Environment and Water. The event was also attended by the Minister of Justice Atanas Slavov, deputy ministers of Energy, Agriculture and Food and representatives of the diplomatic missions in the country. On the Ukrainian side, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets, the Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, the Head of the President's Cabinet, the Deputy Prosecutor General and others participated in a videoconference format.

The event was opened and moderated by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Bulgaria, H.E. Ms. Olesya Iluschuk, who expressed her deep gratitude for Bulgaria's active participation which is in confirmation of its role as a regional leader being a member in three working groups for the implementation of the Ukrainian Formula for peace: Working Group No. 3 "Energy Security", Working Group No. 2 " Food Security", and Working Group No. 8 "Environmental Security".

In his capacity as co-leader of WG No. 8 (together with the Federal Republic of Germany and Finland), Minister Popov pointed out that the main measure in the process of achieving a sustainable, full and lasting peace in Ukraine is to ensure the recovery from the environmental damage caused by the Russian aggression, and the transition to a green economy. The damage caused to the environment as a result of military aggression is global. The destruction of the Kakhovska dam is one of the largest man-made crimes against the environment with a negative imoact of transborder nature. This caused the need for urgent coordination between Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania regarding the ecological status of the Black Sea.

"Environmental restoration will not happen immediately after the war. This is a longer process, but it must start now and bring together the coordinated efforts and proactive actions of the global community," said the Bulgarian Environment Minister. He stressed the need to consolidate the global community to define the legal basis for the responsibility of the Russian aggressor with regard to war crimes and crimes against nature and the impact on climate change. He also pointed out that the international forum "United for Justice, United for Nature", held in Kiev in October this year, had initiated an international legal process to increase the accountability for the destruction and severe damage to nature resulting from military conflicts.

As proof of the importance of the issue for Bulgaria and the country’s readiness to be one of the European co-leaders in the future reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister Popov pointed out that for the first time our country will be represented at the upcoming COP 28 with a pavilion, whereby an event is planned dedicated to the green reconstruction of Ukraine.