Germany warns against the Black Sea turning into a war zone

Berlin, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadefohl warned on Wednesday that the Black Sea region is turning into a war zone following attacks on civilian vessels off the Bulgarian coast, calling on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire that would allow grain shipments to continue. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova Chamova, Wadefohl said the Black Sea was increasingly becoming a theater of military operations, pointing to attacks on civilian ships within Bulgaria’s economic zone. The German minister added that Russian escalation should not continue without a response, arguing that making economic concessions to Moscow could encourage it to persist in its approach, and that pressure is the way to push it toward negotiations. He stressed the need to maintain economic pressure on Russia and work to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources. He also urged Russia to agree to a ceasefire in the Black Sea, particularly regarding grain shipments, warning that continued attacks on cargo ships would have repercussions for populations in the Global South, especially in Africa, where disruptions to supplies could exacerbate the risk of hunger. The German minister emphasized that protecting commercial navigation and ensuring the delivery of grain to global markets are crucial aspects of European security and international food stability. For her part, the visiting Bulgarian minister said that Black Sea security is closely linked to European security, noting that Bulgaria is working with its partners to put an end to attacks on commercial vessels. (End) A.N.J. / M.A.A.