President Radev has shown their concerns over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. According to him, giving weapons means putting out the fire with gasoline. He commented that there would be many more casualties.
The head of the state reported that War will lead to a complete collapse of one side, which inevitably pushes the entire world into a global conflict with the possibility of nuclear self-destruction.
He said, “I cannot accept the position that the War in Ukraine is a war of values when the greatest value is peace and human life. With the calls to achieve “peace through war” we soar toward Orwell’s dystopia that “war is peace.”
President Radev criticised the decision to send weapons to Ukraine as it could worsen the situation and lead to a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. It’s been 330 days since the beginning of the War.
According to the head of the state, continuous weapon supplies of allies to Ukraine to continue their War against Russia is the main reason the conflict resumed for so long.
Previously, President Radev also suggested caretaker government not supply weapons to Ukraine as it could result in a direct conflict with Russia.
Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Keluba stated in a German Newspaper that he mentioned Kiril Petkov’s role in supplying Ukraine with urgently needed ammunition and diesel unknown while it was under Russian attack.
The head of the state also highlighted that the Balkans and Bulgaria will always stay on the radar of many countries for exercising influence in domestic politics. Russia is not the only country that uses such methods.
He further explained that, in Bulgaria, there are politicians, analysts and media that feed on grants, and recipients of funds in various forms become conductors of certain policies.
Discussion is therefore needed on the need for legislative changes to regulate financial flows and the associated opportunity to spread foreign influence to make it clear what these funds are used for.
Speaking about the Schengen problem, President Radev mentioned that Blocking Bulgaria and Romania for Schengen is not a slap against two countries but a slap against the clearly defined European rules, principles and criteria for acceptance in the Schengen space because Bulgaria and Romania have fulfilled all the technical standards for entry.
He said, “We do not beg anyone, but we assert our right to be part of an integrated Europe with dignity. However, the present parliament should not raise the white flag immediately but take responsibility and pass the anti-corruption law and the Attorney General’s liability law to be adopted in Schengen in October”.
On January 23, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met President Radev and visited the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Migrant flow over the fence is objected by Austria and is the main reason for blockage of the country’s path to Schengen.
Before he arrived in Bulgaria, Chancellor Karl clarified that everything had stayed the same in Austria’s position on Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen.