Bulgaria’s pro-Russian president calls Crimea ‘Russian’ – Diplomatic incident with Ukraine

Ukraine today summoned the Bulgarian ambassador, following statements by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev that the Crimean peninsula is part of Russia after its annexation in 2014 by Russia.

In a debate ahead of Bulgaria’s second round of presidential elections on Sunday, Radev said Western sanctions against Moscow had not had the expected effect and that the European Union should resume dialogue with Russia, regardless of how tense the relationship is.

“It is very important to be realistic in foreign policy. The sanctions imposed on Crimea and Ukraine have not worked,” Radev said late Thursday night, adding that Crimea is “Russian today.”

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has said it expects Radev to withdraw his statements, which he said contradict “Sofia’s official position in support of our state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.” of”.

The 58-year-old Radev took office in 2017, calling for the lifting of sanctions against Russia during his election campaign.

He is considered the winner in the second round of Sunday’s presidential election in Bulgaria, having received 49.4% of the vote in the first round on November 14th.

In a debate with his rival, Sofia University Rector Anastas Gerdzhikov, Radev said Bulgaria, a member of the European Union and NATO, should maintain realistic ties with Russia and not see it as an enemy.

Bulgaria was one of the Soviet Union’s closest allies during the communist era. It maintains close cultural, historical and economic ties with Russia, which remains the country’s main energy partner.

Source: AMPE