The US will continue to provide assistance to Ukraine and Israel, US Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O'Brien said in a special interview with BNR. Bulgaria is the first stop on his European tour. 

"Bulgaria has been a fantastic ally and partner from the very beginning - when Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Bulgaria was instrumental in the security of the Black Sea, which Russia had plans to turn into a Russian pond. Sofia provided very important assistance to Ukraine to defend itself against the illegal Russian aggression," the diplomat said.

Asked whether the US would remain a staunch NATO partner after the November presidential elections, O'Brien replied: "I think we'll get that answer in the next few months.

In Sofia, Assistant Secretary O’Brien participates in the Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform to underscore the United States’ commitment to a secure, prosperous, interconnected, and democratic future for the Black Sea region, the US State Department informs.