By Denitsa Koseva in Sofia
Bulgaria’s pro-Russian President Rumen Radev has accused Nato of getting involved in the war in Ukraine, which, he said, risks escalation and a ‘nuclear Armageddon’.
His statement repeats Kremlin’s accusations that it was Nato that started the war in Ukraine and could escalate it further to a nuclear war. Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
Radev’s statement to reporters on June 3 came in response to the decision of some Nato members to allow Ukraine to use weapons they have provided to attack targets in Russia.
“With the decision to allow for an attack with Western weapons deep in Russia and the formalisation of sending advisers and instructors to the very front line, these red lines have already been crossed and unfortunately our politicians become part of such inadequate decisions with all the consequences,” Radev said.
He also attacked Bulgarian pro-Western politicians, saying that they are twisting his words regarding the possibility of sending Bulgarian troops as part of Nato’s mission to Ukraine.
“Our self-proclaimed Euro-Atlanticists are cowards and incapable of such a decision on their own, because they know that they will be ostracised, rejected from society,” Radev said.
He added that said they were 'very far from Euro-Atlantic and democratic values' and that they were 'trying to cover up the lack [of these values] by putting Bulgaria and Europe at risk'.
At the end of May, Radev said that all Nato member states are involved in the war in Ukraine “in one way or another”. Since the start of the war, Radev, until then seen as politician who has the strength to stand against corruption in the country, made a u-turn towards Russia and broke his ties with the pro-Western reformist parties.
