After four years, Bulgaria again has an ambassador to Ukraine

Career diplomat Zlatin Krastev presented his credentials to Ukrainian President Volomdymyr Zelenskyy on August 18, meaning that after a four-year hiatus, Bulgaria again has an ambassador in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian President’s office said in a statement that in his conversation with the Bulgarian ambassador, Zelenskyy “noted the development of relations between the countries”.

“And, most importantly, not only at the state level, but also at the level of our people. It is very important that our nations respect each other,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy said that there is an active dialogue with Bulgarian Prime Minister Roumen Radev, the statement said.

In particular, in July, during the Nato Summit, the leaders discussed energy cooperation and security, which is especially important ahead of winter. The sides discussed implementing all these agreements, the Ukrainian President’s office said.

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Bulgaria suspended its embassy.

Then-ambassador Kostadin Kodzhabashev was appointed acting deputy foreign minister in August 2022 at the time of the Gulub Donev caretaker government appointed by then-president Radev, and removed from the post of ambassador to Ukraine.

Zlatev, a former caretaker deputy defence minister, was nominated in late 2025 by the Rossen Zhelyazkov government and his appointment decreed by then-president Radev.

(Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine)