Bulgarian PM: Europe Needs Its Place at Negotiating Table on Ending War in Ukraine, NATO Return to Pre-1997 Border “Unthinkable” 2026

Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table on ending the war in Ukraine, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told reporters in Dublin on Thursday. He is Ireland to participate in the 9th European Political Community Summit and an informal European Council meeting on November 12 and 13. Trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US as mediator were held in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. He also said there it is unthinkable for NATO to withdraw from its eastern flank to its pre-1997 borders.
This last remark came amid reports that during the latest talks with Ukraine and the US, Russia raised again its demand that NATO should roll back its scope and military presence to its pre-1997 configuration.
The Prime Minister argued that without the participation of European countries, there can be no talk of building a new security system in Europe. In his words, talks between the United States and Russia are not sufficient to resolve issues related to the continent’s long-term security.
“We must defend Ukraine’s interests; we must ensure that Russia is confident in its own interests. Only by taking into account the interests and concerns of both countries can we ensure the stability of peace,” he added. Europe must fight harder to defend its interests, Radev believes.
The institutions are clearly defined, so Europe should nominate a candidate to sit at the negotiating table, Radev further commented. “It is important that we are finally talking about the most powerful tool for resolving this conflict, and that is diplomacy,” he noted.
“If we want to achieve the goals of a strong, secure, and prosperous Europe, there must be security and stability in these regions as well. That is the point – to exchange ideas on how best to achieve these goals,” said Radev.
He said further that competitiveness is also a major topic of Wednesday’s talks – it is driven by innovation and connectivity, and this is where Bulgaria’s strength lies, with affordable energy prices. Likewise, the protection of European democracy is a key objective, and Bulgaria aligns very strongly with these goals through the proactive policies it pursues, Radev added.
Connectivity is emerging as the most important element for both security and our political development, the Prime Minister commented. He noted that Bulgaria will host a summit on connectivity. “We are pursuing this policy, expanding its scope, and have the opportunity to turn our geographical location into a strategic advantage,” Radev noted.
The Prime Minister announced that he will hold talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The main topic will be deepening the energy partnership between the two countries and developing a green energy corridor connecting Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, and Bulgaria.
Radev noted that he will also meet with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. They will talk about the administrative separation of the Taraclia region in Moldova.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset. “We must help and assist the Council of Europe in establishing itself as a guarantor of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” Radev noted. “I will reiterate the point we have been making: there has been no change in the attitude of the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia towards our compatriots; on the contrary, the problems are getting worse,” said Radev.

Bulgarian PM: Europe Needs Its Place at Negotiating Table on Ending War in Ukraine, NATO Return to Pre-1997 Border “Unthinkable” 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-11-12 03:17:00

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BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-11-12 03:17:00