25.02.2022
The European Union has given a clear sign that the member states speak in one voice and we are firm that the Russian Federation is not to go unpunished. Each such aggression must have a price to be paid. This is what Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said when he met the media after the special meeting of the European Council members. In Brussels the European leaders adopted sanctions against the Russian Federation for the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine.
“Given the invasion and the loss of lives that we are witnessing, there was no voice to favor soft measures at the European Council meeting yesterday,” Mr. Petkov noted. The Prime Minister added that discussions on the specific sanctions continue but was firm that they will affect large sectors of the Russian economy and assets of people implicated in the decision for the aggression against Ukraine.
Prime Minister Petkov noted that a headquarters operates already in Bulgaria at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and that, jointly with the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, it works round the clock to help Bulgarians from Ukraine who choose to return to Bulgaria. Mr. Petkov added that Bulgaria, just like any other EU state, stands ready to accept Ukrainian citizens who flee because of the conflict in their country.
“Yesterday all leaders at the European Council meeting, we all agreed that it is important for the households at home to remain unharmed,” the Prime Minister said further. In this context the Prime Minister noted that the Bulgarian interest reigns supreme as far as energy security is concerned. Therefore, he spoke with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis to complete the construction of the Greek gas interconnector as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Kiril Petkov stressed that it is in the current crisis that Bulgaria should take action to provide for the key enablers in its army. The Prime Minister explained that decisions are to be taken at NATO level about the situation with Ukraine and stressed that there won’t be a NATO-Russia military conflict. Mr. Petkov recalled that the coordination is effected at NATO level and stressed that Bulgaria is a framework nation and in this context joins with its own forces. Alongside, the Prime Minister noted the importance of countering hybrid attacks, including attacks from political parties and NGOs that, in his words, would try to undermine the unified European position.
