Russia's war reaches Bulgaria's shores, putting Radev's Moscow-friendly stance to the test
The balancing act of Bulgaria's Moscow-friendly leader stands on shaky ground. Since taking office in May, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has taken a harsh line on Ukraine while adopting steps his critics say are accommodating to Moscow. Radev's course has now come under scrutiny as Bulgaria, a southeastern NATO member state, feels first-hand the spillover of Russia's war against Ukraine.…
Bulgaria's Moscow-friendly stance faces a critical test as the country feels the effects of Russia's war against Ukraine. Prime Minister Rumen Radev's policies have been criticized for being accommodating to Moscow, despite his leadership coming under scrutiny. In October, four merchant vessels were hit by drones near Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, with two sinking and several sailors reported dead or missing.
Radev, a former military officer and ex-president, has only cautiously hinted at Moscow's involvement, refusing to make a direct accusation. This hesitancy has provided an opening for Bulgaria's opposition, which has accused him of failing to properly identify the culprit. While Ukraine has blamed Russia for the attacks, Radev's refusal to formally accuse Moscow has raised concerns among observers.
Analysts argue that Radev's balancing act between the West and Moscow is becoming increasingly precarious, with the threats from Russia growing more brazen and frequent.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
