Cold War II

Bulgaria is a highly valued ally of NATO, it plays an important strategic role in the Black Sea, Kosovo and Afghanistan, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told journalists at the Council of Ministers after meeting with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

President Rumen Radev is in Slovakia to attend the summit of presidents from 9 Central and Eastern European countries, reported the Bulgarian National Television.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also attends the forum. The heads of state are discussing the security of the old continent and neighbouring areas within NATO's collective approach.

Ukraine announced martial law last month after Russian coast guards fired at and seized three Ukrainian ships and their crews, Beta reported on Wednesday, citing AP, and added that 24 seamen still remain in Russian custody.

This came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Ukraine is allegedly preparing a "provocation."

Lavrov accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of preparing a provocation for the end of December, on the border with Russia.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Britain's Permanent Representative to the EU Tim Barrow take part in a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, on Thursday. [Yves Herman/Reuters]

Ukraine has banned Russian adult men aged 16-60 years from entering Ukraine, the head of the border service Petro Tsygykal said in a televised meeting on Friday, quoted by Reuters. 

"Today, the entry of foreigners is limited - primarily citizens of the Russian Federation - non-admission of citizens of the Russian Federation aged from 16 to 60, male," Tsygykal said.

Ukraine's state security service has said that its intelligence officers were among the crew on Ukrainian naval ships seized by Russia in a standoff near Crimea.

At the invitation of the head of state Rumen Radev, Polish President Andrzej Duda arrives on an official visit to our country, reported the Bulgarian National Television. 

The deepening of bilateral relations, economic cooperation and partnership between the two countries within the EU and NATO will be part of the focus of their talks.

The leaders of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France are meeting on Oct. 27 for a first-of-its-kind summit in a bid to extensively discuss recent developments in Syria.

President Rumen Radev will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Miro Cerar today.