Prime Minister Mykola Denkov on Sunday dismissed accusations that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit was a government trap for President Rumen Radev. A few days ago, the sociologist Alexander Marinov and former chairman of the Strategic Council to the President came out with similar statements. His comment appeared after the wide public response to Zelensky’s visit to Sofia and his meeting with Radev, at which Zelensky countered that the situation in Ukraine is not just a conflict, but a war, and asked him if he had been given territory from Putin’s Bulgaria or would like military help from allies. The meeting at the presidency took place in disputes over whether Bulgaria should help Ukraine with armaments and ammunition. Radev is against it.
Radev asked to consider a meeting with Zelensky
“There is no way to set a trap. The moment I found out that he (Volodymyr Zelensky) was coming, I called President Radev and told him. He said that will think about whether they will meet. Later it became clear that they would meet. There is no trap, I was just informing the president. I don’t know why he didn’t invite Zelensky”said Denkov in the program “On focus with Lora Krumova” on Nova TV.
The Prime Minister denied Bulgaria’s dual policy.
“The policy that I will introduce in Vilnius is the one that follows the decisions of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers. If someone held other positions, it was in another period,” said the Prime Minister.
He indicated that the purpose of the visit was Bulgaria to support Ukraine for NATO membership – “not now and immediately, but when possible. The point is after the hostilities are over”, Denkov said. Another 20 countries have already expressed such support.
He recalled that the other goal of the meeting was the signing of a memorandum in the field of energy to start talks on the sale of the old reactors from the “Belene” NPP to Ukraine.
“Both documents correspond to the interests of Bulgaria,” said Denkov. Supporting Ukraine in NATO keeps the dangers away from us, he added.
The Prime Minister recalled that according to the constitution, the institutions that form and implement policies in Bulgaria are the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers. Only when there is no regular government, then through the status of the official cabinet, the president has certain functions.
The vice president brought in the military aid intrigue to divide people
Vice President Iliyana Yotova made a plot about the military aid in order to divide people, Denkov also commented.
A day ago, Yotova came out with a statement that the “fire” against the president aims to divert the attention of the public from the fact that the government has changed its position regarding what kind of weaponry it will provide to Ukraine.
“There is a political decision of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers to provide assistance. The War Department, the Chief of Defense are reviewing what is available. If there is something superfluous, only then is it discussed whether to give it to Ukraine”Denkov explained on Sunday.
According to him, there are munitions whose term expires in 2-3 years, after that it will be expensive for us to destroy them.
“We are helping because it is much better for Bulgaria for this front to stay far away than for it to approach us. This is the national interest of Bulgaria today.”Denkov said.
About the Belene NPP reactors
Regarding the capacities for the “Belene” NPP, the Prime Minister commented that if they could be realized, it would have been done long ago. And now, apart from all the other problems surrounding the plant, Russia will be under sanctions for a long time and there is no way we can implement it. At the same time, Ukraine had its own know-how for building a plant.
“The National Assembly voted that we should get at least the price we paid for this equipment. A mandate was given to hold negotiations, then it will go to the National Assembly for a final decision.”Denkov said.
On other topics, Denkov also answered about the immunity given by Boyko Borisov.
“It’s a personal decision. To me, it’s more important that the justice system starts working. Whether he has given himself immunity or not is not as important as whether our justice system is working, can the one in the highest echelons of power who involved in corruption, to be investigated and convicted”Denkov said.
