German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul issued a stark warning on Wednesday, emphasizing that the Black Sea is becoming an increasingly dangerous war zone. His remarks followed recent attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Bulgaria, according to the German news agency DPA.
“We cannot simply allow this escalation, this aggression from Russia, to continue,” Wadephul stated during a conversation with Bulgarian counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova.
Wadephul stressed that, “We are literally all in the same boat. We are all in the crosshairs,” highlighting the shared concerns over regional security.
Petrova-Chamova underscored the connection between Black Sea security and the broader safety of Europe, noting Bulgaria’s cooperation with partners to end the attacks on commercial ships.
The German minister called on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire that would protect maritime transport, particularly grain shipments. He warned, “If Russia continues its attacks in the Black Sea, this will come at the expense of people in the Global South, especially in Africa,” adding that those populations face the threat of famine.
Wadephul also emphasized that ensuring European security involves maintaining economic pressure on Russia. “Europe must continually free itself from dependency on Russian energy,” he stated, cautioning against the risks of strategic dependencies while trying to exert economic pressure.
He criticized the recent deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia concerning diesel shipments, implying that such “gifts” to President Vladimir Putin encourage aggressive behavior. “Only a firm attitude can create the desire for dialogue,” he concluded.
These comments follow Trump’s agreement to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel from Russia, which has drawn criticism from European allies and some factions within the U.S.
