Talks to Macron about fighter jets, hopes we don’t send more military aid to Ukraine
At the EU summit, they confused the president with Kiril Petkov
Bulgaria cannot accept European sanctions against Russia in the field of nuclear energy, because this will directly affect our energy. Therefore, if it comes to that, our country will impose a veto. This was announced by President Rumen Radev in Brussels before the start of the extraordinary EU summit. According to him, our country cannot accept such measures against Moscow, because it would endanger our interests – made on the Russian model,
the two reactors of Kozloduy NPP” use only Russian fuel
According to Radev, it is time for the debates on Ukraine to be focused on ending the conflict and resuming diplomatic relations. But he stressed that we will continue to support the Ukrainians in the “fair fight for the freedom of their country”.
Our head of state pointed out that the caretaker government has fulfilled the decision of the parliament to send armaments from the reserves of our army, hoping that this will not happen again.
“I rarely hear calls for peace, but only for
victory, without somewhere someone has defined
what does she mean,” he added.
An important topic that the president wants to discuss during the summit is the anti-Bulgarian campaign in the RSM, which is not part of the agenda. Radev insists on monitoring whether the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians are respected.
The institutions in Skopje must prove with results that they really strive for European integration, he said in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. It was Macron’s formula for compromise at the end of the French presidency last summer that was adopted by the National Assembly despite Radev’s reservations. So Sofia lifted the veto on the start of the negotiations in Skopje. “We observe an absence of political will for reforms and changes to the constitution, and instead another anti-Bulgarian campaign is being waged in the country”, Radev now pointed out to Macron.
The Bulgarian president has also announced to the French our interest in leasing fighters until the first American F-16s arrive. The Ministry of Defense has already sent requests for binding offers to the defense ministers of France, Sweden and Israel, as there is nowhere to repair our MiGs and if no alternative is found, we will have to turn to NATO partners to protect the Bulgarian sky.
The European Council made a small blunder by confusing Radev with our former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov. Under the photo of the president on their website, albeit briefly, was written: “Arrival of Kiril Petkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria.”
Euroleaders warmly welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said several EU countries are ready
to provide of Kyiv planes
Some of the military aid deals are in process, while others cannot yet be announced publicly, the BBC noted.
Zelensky asked Brussels for more sanctions against Russia, including for the IT sector, in order to limit Moscow from building missiles.
Despite the applause, the president heard from the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, that Ukraine’s road to EU membership will be long and difficult.
At the summit, which continues on Friday, leaders will also comment on the state of the EU’s economy, migration and security at the union’s external borders.
