Bulgaria's PM: I will insist that the European partners support us because of the refugee wave

At the Versailles summit, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Kiril Petkov will insist on support from the European partners because of the pressure on the country from the war in Ukraine and the subsequent refugee wave.

"Several issues - the first is to see that there is common support for the people fleeing the war in Ukraine. This has to be done at a European level. This will be one of the themes - European partners to support us financially.. all countries that are closer to the conflict," the prime minister said.

Bulgaria should also think about a scenario in which Russia would stop supplying gas, he added.

"I don't believe this would happen, but the only way Bulgaria could manage in such a situation is to stop exporting electricity. It is good that I see an understanding from European counterparts that only in such an extreme situation this would be possible. We should also discuss focusing on investments in alternative sources as well as the Recovery and Development Plan," Petkov said.

Ukraine's place is in the EU, believes Kirill Petkov, the question is when the country can be accepted. In his words, the more the Union expands to the east, the greater the safety for Bulgaria because it will not be a border country.

The leaders of the European Union countries are meeting today and tomorrow (March 10 and 11) in Versailles for an informal summit to discuss Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the consequences from it.