Velislava, Minister of Foreign Affairs Petrova insisted that Bulgaria did not assume any new obligations by participating in the July 15 meeting in kyiv and rejected allegations that the country had signed the so-called kyiv Declaration. Speaking on Nova TV, she described the document as part of an informal political format that does not carry any legally binding commitments, stressing that BulgariaThe country’s real international obligations are carried out only through the European Union and NATO.
Petrova said the declaration contains broad policy language, leaving each participating country free to decide which initiatives it will support in practice. Referring to the position of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, she said: “Our position has been clearly expressed by Prime Minister Rumen Radev – at this stage, Bulgaria does not find its place in the Coalition of the Volunteers.” She added that BulgariaUkraine’s participation in previous meetings had been largely ceremonial, without involvement in operational activities or the provision of free military assistance to Ukraine.
According to the minister, the public debate created “an artificial sense of foreign policy crisis” and the impression that Bulgaria has radically changed its geopolitical direction, which, according to it, is not supported by reality. She emphasized that Bulgaria remains firmly anchored within the EU and NATO while seeking a more independent diplomatic approach. “After 20 years of membership, Bulgaria We cannot afford to blindly follow this or that big country and simply copy. It’s time for Bulgaria pursue a foreign policy guided by initiative rather than inertia or symbolic acts,” she said.
Petrova He also explained why Sofia requested exemptions for two names included in the latest EU sanctions package against Russia. Regarding Russian Patriarch Kirill, she argued that imposing economic sanctions would have little practical impact on Russia and would be equivalent to “a symbolic act” this could fuel anti-European propaganda rather than produce meaningful results.
Regarding businessman Iskandar Makhmudov, the minister said BulgariaThe reserves were linked to the operation of the Sofia metro. She pointed out that previous governments had already requested exemptions because companies linked to Makhmudov supplied essential spare parts for the capital’s metro. “Such a sanction would hinder the supply of important parts for the Sofia metro,” Petrova said, adding that the decision was coordinated with all relevant ministries and institutions based on expert assessments rather than taken unilaterally.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs described what she described as Bulgariathe three key priorities for achieving peace in Ukraine: continuous assistance allowing Ukraine to defend themselves, effective economic sanctions aimed at bringing Russia negotiations and coordinated diplomatic efforts within the EU and NATO. She argued that these three elements must work together to create the conditions for a lasting settlement.
Asked directly about the status of Crimea, Petrova distinguishes between international law and the situation on the ground. She declared that “from the point of view of international law, Crimea belongs to Ukraine,” while recognizing that Russia currently exercises de facto control over the peninsula. According to the minister, this distinction between legal status and effective control reflects the position previously expressed by Prime Minister Radev.
Source: Novinite
