Pro-Russian president of Bulgaria skips NATO summit due to position on Ukraine
Rumen Radev, President of Bulgaria (photo: Getty Images)
President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev declined to participate in the NATO summit scheduled for July 9-11 in Washington. The reason cited is his stance on aid to Ukraine, according to the press service of the Bulgarian head of state.
In the office of the Bulgarian president, it was stated that the proposal for his participation in the summit included a requirement to present framework positions adopted by the government and to approve and/or endorse documents based on them.
"The head of state does not accept certain provisions of the framework positions adopted by the government. They concern the obligations our country assumes regarding the war in Ukraine," clarified Radev's office.
However, they did not specify the exact conflicting points of the framework positions.
Radio Svoboda reminded that last week, the Bulgarian government's press service had announced that Bulgaria would be represented at the summit by Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and President Rumen Radev. Therefore, it was unknown who would exactly lead the delegation.
Controversial president
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev opposes aid to Ukraine in its war against Russian forces. He has stated that supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces is akin to putting out a fire with gasoline.
Additionally, he vetoed the provision of armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, but his decision was overturned by Parliament.
