20.10.2026
At the European Council meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested an additional €70 billion. Bulgaria cannot be part of this €70 billion package, the Prime Minister stated.
“Vessels sailing to Varna and Burgas and serving our economy have not stopped operating, nor will they. Those spreading hysteria should put an end to it, as there is no risk at present and maritime traffic will continue as normal,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists in the town of Tvarditsa.
The Prime Minister added that he had requested information from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which clearly shows that there has been no decline in commercial vessel traffic to Bulgarian ports compared with the same period last year. Moreover, the number of vessels has increased by 30% compared with the previous month.
“Bulgaria has fully mobilised its surveillance, intelligence, detection and response capabilities in the Black Sea. We also expect additional assistance from our allies,” the Prime Minister said in response to a question from journalists about maritime security. He noted that, following talks between himself and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a US Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft is already conducting patrols over the Black Sea.
The Prime Minister also commented on the protests taking place across a number of European countries. In his view, the key factors behind the growing public discontent include uncontrolled migration, failed integration policies, the Green Deal, deindustrialisation, job losses, as well as the war in Ukraine.
“The war is draining our economic systems, fuelling social tensions and political instability. It must be brought to an end as soon as possible. Just consider this: last year, the EU decided to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, for which Europe acts as guarantor. At the European Council meeting that concluded last Friday, President Zelenskyy requested a further €70 billion. What does that tell you, given everything that is happening in Europe? Bulgaria cannot be part of this €70 billion package,” Rumen Radev said.
The Prime Minister identified transport connectivity between regions as one of the Government’s key priorities. He stressed that the limited availability of budgetary resources makes it impossible to deliver the necessary infrastructure solely through public funding, particularly given the widespread misappropriation of public funds in previous years.
Among the measures already being implemented, the Prime Minister highlighted enhanced oversight of public procurement, including through the Sigma system, as well as a fundamental change in the approach and underlying principles guiding the development of future infrastructure projects.
“We will mobilise private capital through public-private partnerships and concessions, allowing public funds to be channelled towards the most essential priorities: healthcare, education and support for the needs of small and remote communities,” Rumen Radev said.
Asked about the protest scheduled to take place later that evening, the Prime Minister stated that the intentions behind its organisers’ actions were becoming increasingly clear.
“To resurrect the political alliance known as the ‘assembly’, to whitewash Borisov and Peevski, and to return to power alongside them, because they cannot do so on their own. To drag us into the war and have Assen Vassilev draw up the budget, which would finish us off,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev said.
