Radev: Diplomacy is the path to ending the conflict
During his visit to Paris, President Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria is not joining the "coalition of the willing" for continued military and financial aid to Ukraine. According to him, the solution to the conflict does not lie in prolonging military operations, but in diplomatic efforts to end the escalation.
"We are not participating in a coalition that insists on continued financial and military aid to Ukraine. We do not provide such aid," the head of state was categorical.
National interest as a priority
Radev gave an example of the successfully defended Bulgarian interest during the discussion of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. Bulgaria imposed a veto to protect an individual important for the functioning of the Sofia Metro, who was subsequently removed from the list. "For the first time, we see that there is nothing scary about a country defending its national interest in a collective format," he emphasized.
Relations with France and the EU
- The participation of Bulgarian guardsmen in the military parade in Paris is a symbol of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
- Decisions on collective security must be made within the established formats of NATO and the EU, rather than in ad hoc coalitions.
- Regarding sanctions against Russian oil, Radev called for an analysis of the effectiveness of the measures taken so far, pointing out that they should not harm the countries that impose them.
The President concluded that the EU is strong when member states defend their sovereignty, and that this behavior earns respect among partners in Europe.