Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Friday criticised the European Union’s continued support for Ukraine, calling Kyiv’s prospects of victory over Russia “doomed” in comments posted on Facebook.
“Europe does not have its own vision for ending the war and establishing peace, but continues to invest in a cause that, in my opinion, is doomed,” Radev wrote. He added that sending more weapons to Ukraine would not lead to a Ukrainian victory but instead fuel further suffering and destruction.
“The exact opposite is happening every day — more victims, more destruction, more lost territories,” he said. “Is Europe afraid of the return of peace?”
The remarks coincided with Russia’s annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s role in defeating Nazi Germany during World War Two.
Radev, a former air force commander who has held office since 2017, has often adopted a more conciliatory stance toward Moscow than most EU leaders. He has consistently opposed supplying military aid to Ukraine and has echoed Kremlin narratives during the conflict.
Although Bulgaria’s presidency is largely ceremonial, Radev’s political influence has grown amid prolonged parliamentary deadlock, with the country holding seven elections in the past four years.
In previous statements, he has described Ukraine’s victory over Russia as “impossible” and blamed European leaders for encouraging a counteroffensive that he claimed caused “hundreds of thousands” of casualties.
Radev’s position has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv. During a 2023 visit to Sofia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rebuked Radev in a televised exchange, questioning whether he would ask Putin to seize Bulgarian territory if their roles were reversed. Radev later asked for cameras to be turned off.
