Bulgaria has signed a UN declaration in which more than 50 countries call on Russia to stop fighting in Ukraine fully and immediately, the foreign ministry says. Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

The text was published ahead of a UN Security Council meeting in New York. It urges Moscow to end its military action without conditions and sit down for real peace talks.

According to a list on the Ukrainian foreign ministry's website, Bulgaria is among 51 countries that have signed the declaration.

The Bulgarian foreign ministry says the country joined because it values staying united with its European partners. The statement defends international law and repeats the call for peace that Bulgaria has consistently backed, the ministry says.

But it added that Bulgaria's own national position was not fully reflected in the joint declaration. That was set out separately by president Rumen Radev's counterpart, vice president Iliana Yotova. She is leading Bulgaria's delegation at the general political debate of the UN General Assembly's 81st session. Her speech to the forum is where Bulgaria's position was laid out, the ministry says.

Foreign minister Velislava Petrova is also with the delegation in New York.