Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bojan Maricik, in a program on Radio Skopje, said that in these difficult times he expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people and strongly condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, calling for a diplomatic solution.

- This is Russia's inadmissible aggression against Ukraine. We have always been in favour of diplomatic solution, for talks and against war. That is why we remain with Ukraine, because this military aggression will bring a lot of misfortune, human casualties and instability in Europe, today in the 21st century. This is an act of destabilization in Eastern Europe, but the consequences are felt throughout Europe, said Deputy Prime Minister Maricik, adding that we as a NATO member and as EU candidate country are in coordination with our allies and will help as much as we can within our capabilities and capacities.

Asked about the relations with the Republic of Bulgaria, our positions and the new approach to negotiations, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik said that they have been in intensive communication with the Bulgarian government and working groups for the past month and that this intensity is expected to yield results.

- We have a clear goal and clear positions in the talks with Bulgaria. Our positions are determined by the Declaration adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, whereby the Government was given a clear task in the negotiations to adhere to those lines of protection of the Macedonian language and Macedonian identity in order to reach a dignified solution. This is our main goal in the talks with Bulgaria, in addition to the goal of starting negotiations with the European Union," Maricik said in the interview.

He added that the goal of the Government is to have a comprehensive written agreement with Bulgaria which will clearly define the obligations of both the Macedonian side and the Bulgarian side, which will ensure that the steps they take will unblock the country's European integration process and that we will not face a veto again, for which Deputy Prime Minister Maricik expects the European Union to give support and practically guarantee its implementation.