Bulgarian President: Neither weapons nor NATO troops can be sent to Ukraine
Bulgaria supports ending the war in Ukraine through diplomatic means. This was stated by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev during a joint press briefing with his Hungarian counterpart, Tamás Šujok, according to the Bulgarian news agency BTA. The statement came several hours before Radev's meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at a Carmelite monastery.
"We need to find diplomatic tools to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. This cannot be achieved with more weapons, nor can it be achieved by sending troops from NATO member states. The war in Ukraine remains a major challenge and a huge risk facing our countries. Every day this war continues means losses not only for Russia and Ukraine, but also for all neighboring states. Every day of this war means a growing risk to global security. We must not allow this risk to grow either in scope or in intensity," the Bulgarian leader stated.
Among the topics discussed during Rumen Radev's meeting with the Hungarian President and Prime Minister was the security of the TurkStream gas pipeline, the only functioning artery through which Russian gas flows to Europe . Gas flows to Hungary via TurkStream through Turkey, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Last year, 5,6 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported via this route, accounting for approximately 65% of Hungary's consumption.
“It is therefore clearly in our interests that the Turkish Stream pipeline continues to be a safe and predictable route for the supply of natural gas to Hungary,” said Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Péter Szijjártó.
Bulgarian President : NATO should not send weapons or troops to Ukraine