"I Don't Care About Supporting Russia": Bulgarian PM Rejects Pro-Moscow Accusations

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev rejected accusations that he is "pro-Russian," stating that such labels stem from his proposed approach to reaching a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia being "outside the mainstream," according to Euronews.

Since taking office this summer, Radev has advocated for increased diplomatic engagement with Moscow to end its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this year, options for re-engaging with Russia regarding Ukraine were discussed, including potential appointments of an EU envoy for direct talks. However, most member states warned that Russian diplomatic rhetoric showed no genuine desire for peace, and the idea appears to have returned to the margins of political debate.

Radev said in an interview during a defense and space summit: "It is customary, and very unfortunate, that if you deviate from the political mainstream, you are immediately labeled as pro-Russian. This is not true."

He added that he "does not care" about the issue of supporting Russia, but values "a realistic approach and finding a path to peace as quickly as possible, because this war drains our social and economic systems almost every day."

The Bulgarian Prime Minister stressed the need for Europe to rebalance its "military, economic, and diplomatic tools," adding that he "does not yet see the correct balance." Radev believes Brussels' approach focuses excessively on "weapons and money."

He stated that "our primary priority must be talking and working for peace," noting that the power of diplomacy has not yet been exhausted.

Radev's comments come amid a tense exchange last week between German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York, while all White House attempts to secure a temporary ceasefire have failed.