Bulgaria–Russia relations

Russian energy giant Lukoil has announced plans to sell its largest asset in the Balkans, the refinery in Burgas, Bulgaria, to a Qatari-British consortium by the end of the year, marking a significant shift in Moscow's influence over energy supplies in Southeastern Europe, as reported by the Financial Times.

On Monday, at Hyatt Regency Sofia hotel, during the event dedicated to the National Holiday of our northern neighbour, the Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Bulgaria H.E. Mrs. Brandusa Predescu delighted the guests by sharing some exciting news: a third bridge between the two countries will be built over the Danube River.

Relations between Bulgaria and Russia are at the lowest level for the entire post-socialist period, the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova said in an interview with TASS.

The erosion in Vladimir Putin's personal rating continues. After falling to 32 percent in the early days of the war, confidence in him now drops to 25 percent and distrust jumps to 61 percent. Many people who continue to like Russia express a negative attitude towards Putin, which is a novelty for public attitudes in Bulgaria.

The Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly criticised the Russian embassy in Sofia for organising an exhibition commemorating "75 years of the liberation of Eastern Europe from Nazism", which will take place on September 9 in Bulgaria's capital.

The conditions for the development of a mutually beneficial dialogue between Bulgaria and Russia have every chance for being put into practice, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said on Monday.

,,We are optimistic about the development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Russia'', the Prime Minister of Russia said, quoted by NOVA TV. 

The energy projects were expected to be a major topic between Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev. Russia wants Bulgaria to get guarantees from the EC that the fate of the possible continuation of "Turkish Stream" will not be the same as for South Stream.

After President Rumen Radev paved the way towards improved Bulgarian-Russian relations last week, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will follow up by visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 30.

Bulgaria and Russia must be open and honest with each other. This was stated by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi.

"The purpose of my visit is to reinstate the dialogue at the highest level after a multi-year interruption", the head of state said.