According to a report by TASS, Bulgaria wants no part in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
On March 26, 2022, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said that his country will not get involved in the Russo-Ukrainian war, per an announcement made by Radev’s press service.
“As head of state, I will not allow Bulgaria to be dragged into the conflict in Ukraine. I was elected to defend the security of the Bulgarians and peace in Bulgaria. Ordinary citizens, but not television propagandists pay for war. My concern is the citizens [of Bulgaria],” Radev declared.
Bulgaria is a small country of 6.8 million people. It joined NATO back in 2004 alongside other countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Despite its NATO membership, its political leadership recognizes that Russia doesn’t pose an existential threat to it.
Russia’s primary security concerns deal with countries that have traditionally been part of its imperial past, its traditional zone of interest, or have significant ethnic Russians living in them. Bulgaria does not meet any of this criteria, hence its political class’s lack of desire for butting heads with Russia over Ukraine.
Other state leaders in Europe will likely take similar steps as the Russo-Ukrainian conflict heats up. Most countries will ultimately opt to stay out as realism, not ideological fantasies, starts dictating their foreign policy decision-making.
