President Radev: I did not sign the document backing Ukraine’s membership in NATO because it could mean war between NATO and Russia

I will give the parties enough time so that they can discuss principles and priorities and so that a governing majority and government can be produced, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev on October 7 told journalists in Prague.

"I expect them not to forget that they should put the interests of the Bulgarian citizens first. It is extremely important to have a parliament because our Bulgarian constitutional model of power is based on Parliament," he said.

Asked by BNT why he did not sign the declaration of the Eastern European leaders on Ukraine's accession to NATO, the President said:

"With full conviction I did not sign the declaration on Ukraine joining NATO because that could mean a NATO-Russia war. I will continue to be accountable to the Bulgarian people and as President and Commander-in-Chief I will work against Bulgaria's involvement in the war, no matter under what beautiful phrases it is disguised. We should take this issue very seriously."

He responded to the criticism of “Democratic Bulgaria”, as well as to their statement that they will submit a draft decision on sending weapons to Ukraine to the next Bulgarian Parliament.

"It is astonishing that against the backdrop of the energy and economic crisis across Europe, “Democratic Bulgaria” is rushing to push our country into the war, even before the Parliament is convened. If with the same passion with which they lobbied for Ukraine in NATO, they worked for justice reform and for the interests of Bulgarian citizens, the public weight of this political group would have been different now."

Radev also commented on the discussed cap on gas prices in the EU.

"A cap on gas prices is a topic that is only being discussed at the moment. Yes, there is a desire to tackle the price crisis, but these mechanisms are yet to be discussed in other councils. The leaders recommended to the Commission for the next Council on 20 October that the Commission should propose steps so that prices can be contained and so that there is reform of the European gas market."

EU leaders met in Prague as the Czech Republic currently holds the presidency of the European Council.

Their meeting came a day after the "European political community" gathered in the Czech capital to demonstrate unity and cooperation on security and energy. The agenda of the 27 leaders included new sanctions against Russia, measures to stabilise the energy sector and the economies of member states. President Rumen Radev represented Bulgaria.