Bulgaria's PM Radev Denies Pro-Russian Stance on Ukraine Conflict

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev dismissed characterizations of his government as pro-Russian, insisting his foreign policy stance on the Ukraine-Russia war is grounded in realism rather than alignment with Moscow. He stated that he does not care about supporting Russia.

Radev's Diplomatic Position

Radev has previously called for diplomatic solutions to the war and expressed reservations about weapons deliveries to Ukraine. These positions put him at odds with EU mainstream and led critics to label him pro-Russian. The Bulgarian premier contests this framing, arguing that pushing for peace negotiations is not equivalent to backing Russia.

Bulgaria is a NATO and EU member. Radev's government has been more cautious than many Central and Eastern European counterparts on military aid to Ukraine while maintaining formal alliance commitments.