President Rumen Radev defended Bulgaria’s decision not to explicitly accuse Russia for the incident involving a drone found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport, warning that Europe’s military support for Ukraine increases the risk of a larger conflict.
During a parliamentary control session held on Friday, Radev stated that Bulgaria reacted appropriately to the incident and firmly supported Germany, which he described as a key ally and a major economic and investment partner. However, he maintained that Bulgarian authorities have not yet received concrete information from intelligence services confirming Moscow’s involvement, as reported by Novinite.
"The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was among the first to react appropriately. We firmly support our main ally, Germany, and stand with Germany in responding to any hybrid or other type of attack," Radev said.
Germany officially attributed the drone attack attempt at Leipzig airport to Russia. Radev acknowledged that the conclusions of German authorities point to a Russian hybrid operation, but emphasized that Bulgarian services have not received the evidence underlying these conclusions. "After the political statements, the services must provide concrete facts. We have not yet received such concrete facts," he stated.
An Ill-Advised Act by Europe
Radev described the case as "complex" and "extremely worrying," agreeing with European and NATO officials' assessments that the incident constituted an ill-advised action. He also defended the Foreign Ministry's decision not to directly mention Russia in the statement regarding the incident.
According to Radev, Bulgaria has not faced any criticism from its European partners regarding the wording of its response. "There is absolutely no dissatisfaction with the Bulgarian side, no concern. There are no reproaches towards the Foreign Minister either," he said.
Turning to the conflict in Ukraine, the Bulgarian Prime Minister questioned whether European countries might be taking actions themselves that could provoke further escalation.
He stated that European governments should consider how Moscow might react to attacks deep within Russian territory: "Let's judge ourselves, let's not turn a blind eye. And what can we expect when we attack deep into another country's territory with our long-range weapons? Will it stand aside or retaliate? That is the big question."
Bulgaria Advises Against Provoking the Great Russian Power
Radev argued that the West is pursuing a conventional military victory over Russia without adequately considering Moscow's nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities.
He warned that ongoing military escalation increases the likelihood of the conflict expanding geographically. "Europe must finally start evaluating the risks and sit down at the negotiation table as soon as possible because this war is expanding its theater, and the risk is growing every day," Radev stated.
Europe Cannot Exist Against Russia
Additionally, the Prime Minister rejected the idea that Bulgaria should automatically support any European initiative related to war. "Europe is not a conformity contest. And if there is insistence that Bulgaria must participate in escalation, I have no such intentions," he said.
At the same time, Radev emphasized that Bulgaria remains committed to its European and Euro-Atlantic alliances. He specifically mentioned Germany, stating that supporting this country does not imply approval of policies that Sofia believes could increase the risk of a larger confrontation.
Radev also highlighted incidents involving drones and missiles targeting other European countries, mentioning drones flying towards or over Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. In his view, Bulgaria should be among the countries that most strongly insist on ending the war and resuming negotiations.
He summarized his position with a warning about Europe's long-term relationship with Moscow: "Europe can exist without Russia, but it will hardly be able to exist for long against Russia."
Opposition Charges Government's Hypocrisy
Radev's statements elicited a sharp reaction from GERB deputy Georgi Gheorghiev, who criticized the government's reluctance to explicitly name Russia in its response to the Leipzig incident.
Gheorghiev argued that Bulgaria wants to benefit from its membership in the European Union but shows hesitation in taking a clear stance when European security is at stake.
Bulgaria Softens EU's Blows Against Russia
Radev's comments fit into a pattern of skepticism regarding Western military support for Ukraine, as noted by Novinite.
During his presidency, Radev previously spoke out against providing military assistance to Kiev and criticized Western policies regarding the war. Now, as Prime Minister, he supports similar arguments, while insisting that Bulgaria remains firmly aligned with its European and NATO partners.
Radev's government has already taken positions that have drawn attention in the context of the European Union's policy towards Russia. At Sofia's request, the EU removed from the then-preparing sanctions list Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill – a staunch supporter of the war against Ukraine – and Lukoil co-owner Vagit Alekperov.
T.D.