Missile strike over Ukraine, visit to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in China and the beginning of the NATO meeting in Washington. The three world news related to war and peace were commented to NOVA by the former ambassador of Bulgaria to the USA, Elena Poptodorova.
Poptodorova said that she will travel to Washington. "Celebrating the 75th anniversary will not be fanfare. This is a country that knows how to present such events spectacularly. The core part will focus on existential issues mostly related to the alliance in the future. The coming years will have nothing in common with the past ones in terms of risks, challenges, expansion," she said, adding about the summit: "in a word, the goal is to bring together like-minded people who want to see a successful and a vital future of the alliance".
According to Poptodorova, President Trump is known for his unpredictability. "There is a fear of his spontaneous thoughts and decisions that could lead to limiting US participation in NATO, in certain missions and operations," she said. "If America has the reputation, the aura of a leader, it has this role, not because of shrinking borders, but because of the ability to make alliances," Poptodorova noted.
"Orbán quite single-mindedly and defiantly set out to make this tour immediately after the date he started the presidency, without even going through the EU authorities. He could do a ritual – to speak his intentions in order to have the back of the EC and the EU. Then he would have more weight in these meetings. There was a loud and unequivocal distinction from him," she commented.
"We are not close to peace in Ukraine. This is a war that must run its course. It is very important what decisions the Alliance will make, negotiate on this topic. The Washington summit is the bridge to Ukraine's NATO membership. I believe that it will be an absolute deterrent to future encroachments," concluded Poptodorova.