US welcomes the clarification of Bulgaria’s Presidency on President’s remarks about Crimea

“We welcome the clarification of President Radev, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine. He made it clear that Crimea belongs to Ukraine,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing, as quoted by BNR on November 22.

Position of the press secretariat of Bulgaria’s President on Crimea

Earlier on November 22, the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria released a statement voicing “deep concern” over Radev’s recent comments in which he referred to Crimea as Russian.

The United States is deeply concerned by the recent statements of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in which he referred to Crimea as “Russian.” The United States, G7, European Union, and NATO have all been clear and united in our position that, despite Russia’s attempted annexation and ongoing occupation, Crimea is Ukraine. All of us, including Bulgaria, declared at the Crimea Platform Summit in August that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and that we do not and will not recognize Russia’s efforts to legitimize its illegal seizure and occupation of the peninsula. In recent days we have communicated our deep concern to the Bulgarian government in Washington and in Sofia, the statement said.