Speaking after meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart in Sofia, President of the Republic Ilir Meta stated that barbaric crimes in Ukraine should receive the punishment they deserve, and Russian aggression should be stopped immediately. 

At a joint press conference with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Meta noted that Albania condemns the massacres in Ukraine, for which an international investigation is required. While noting that the solution between the parties should come through dialogue and agreement.

"As you rightly said, we are in full support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, we condemn the barbaric crimes with which we are all familiar, and for which an international investigation is required and we are for an immediate cessation of this aggression, but also for resolving all issues, through dialogue and agreement. At the same time, we are more committed than ever to demonstrating our commitment to democracy and to the strongest European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of our continent. In this regard, the stability and European perspective of the Western Balkans is very important for us, but I am sure it is also very important for the European Union and for Bulgaria itself, as an EU member state, which has been committed to the progress of our entire region", said Meta.

He explained that it is important for both countries, Albania and Bulgaria, to intensify cooperation between each other, as NATO member countries, but also in Albania's bid to become a member of the European Union. 

"Therefore, it is very important to further intensify cooperation and dialogue with each other, as well as to strengthen our partnership and solidarity, as never before. I am proud that the cooperation with you, the cooperation between the governments and our authorities, is very close in all directions, especially in the field of security, including in the framework of joint initiatives and additional commitments that we have taken within the Alliance. We salute all the efforts that your country makes, as a very important NATO country. We are closer to Bulgaria than ever before. Of course, in addition to the problem of security, we also have the risk that threatens our system of values, values ??of peace, coexistence and democracy, which we share as members of NATO, but also as two partner countries, one EU member and Albania as a country that wants to join the European Union as soon as possible", stressed the head of the Albanian state.