site.btaAll Security Formats Must Keep US, Europe Is Weak without America, PM Zhelyazkov Says

Arriving in Brussels for an extraordinary European Council meeting on security and the situation in Ukraine on Thursday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that Bulgaria’s position is that the US must remain committed in all security formats. "Europe is weak without the US," Zhelyazkov told Bulgarian reporters ahead of the forum.

"It would take Europe a long time to achieve what our partnership with the US in NATO and bilaterally provides us. We hope the US remains committed to our collective security, which is based on shared values," the Prime Minister added.

Zhelyazkov also shared that his earlier conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was initiated by the Ukrainian leader. According to Zhelyazkov, Zelensky briefed him on the discussions he had held so far.

Later in the day, the European Council meeting in Brussels would focus on Ukraine’s resilience and achieving a lasting and just peace, Zhelyazkov said. He emphasized that no decisions regarding peace in Ukraine should be made without Ukraine’s involvement. "Negotiations about Europe’s security must be conducted by Europe and for Europe," he stressed. He further noted the importance of defining the kind of peace being pursued: "When right is might is confronted by might is right, Europe must be prepared".

The head of government highlighted Bulgaria’s strong military industry and the need for its development and modernization to contribute to European security. He asserted Bulgaria’s clear national stance that funding for rearmament should not come at the expense of EU cohesion funds. Instead, Bulgaria will propose that unutilized funds from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility be redirected toward the country's defence industry.

"Bulgaria’s industry remains technologically linked to old Soviet-era technologies, but it has a great potential. It must be developed through industrial cooperation based on NATO standards," Zhelyazkov said. He stressed that upcoming resources should be invested in both the public and private defence industry sectors.

Regarding Bulgaria’s commitments to Ukraine, he confirmed: "Everything that Bulgaria has pledged, including commitments adopted by Parliament, will be honoured." Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron’s security initiatives, Zhelyazkov reiterated the importance of Bulgaria’s participation in all formats that guarantee the security of the European Union.