"Whoever has the resources, energy, industry and military power dictates the pace. The US is looking for a deal, Russia is stepping onto the battlefield, China and India are looking after their interests", former caretaker prime minister and leader of "Bulgarian Rise" Stefan Yanev told Bulgaria ON AIR, commenting on the results of the negotiations on Ukraine in Alaska and Washington.
According to him, the EU has a problem with its own industry. European politicians speak mostly with slogans, not with real tools that are measurable as deadlines and opportunities for the development of industry and market, Yanev believes.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
He pointed out in "Denyat ON AIR" that the dominant topic of the meeting in Washington was about security guarantees for Ukraine - one of the important factors for achieving peace.
"These security guarantees are an important element of everything that is about to happen. The need to give up territories, the tone was also softened there. It is already being said that this is possible and is about to come to the negotiating table. It is difficult to assess what kind of deal has been reached between the US and Russia. The meeting in Washington looked like: "Let's get the Western allies together to see what kind of PR we can do and how to explain that we are changing the strategy", the former defense minister analyzed.
According to him, the meeting in Alaska gave a signal that it is time for de-escalation, because the opposite means that we are heading towards World War III.
"Diplomacy will solve the problem. Ukraine, with its smaller resources than Russia, with all the help from the West, achieves restraint, but at what cost - the most important resource for Ukraine is human", Yanev emphasized.
Europe is becoming increasingly dependent on the United States
The former caretaker prime minister added that European leaders do not have a military instrument behind them.
"Europe's military instrument is NATO. The United States is a member of NATO and can influence decisions. When Trump says that this is not his war and he will not send soldiers, it means that the European leaders have no other choice," Yanev pointed out.
According to him, Europe's competitiveness is declining, and the well-being of Europeans is in question - they are becoming poorer. All this, against the backdrop of increasing sanctions against Russia.
"Europe is becoming more and more dependent on the US - on its resources and energy base. It has come to the point of being dictated to. What Europe loses, someone else gains and develops on its territory. Europe consists of nation states and each state strives to realize its interest, as long as it is able to formulate and defend it. We do not do that. What is political in our political debate?", Yanev also said.
How will the euro affect prices in our country
According to him, there is a lack of in-depth economic analysis while the government is rushing to adopt the euro. The question is whether Bulgarians will be richer, will they have the opportunity to develop business, the former caretaker prime minister emphasized.
Yanev described as populist all the government measures related to prices around the adoption of the euro.
"What is on our table comes from the foreign market. We do not think about our own development and future. The Bulgarian land can produce things that we have already forgotten the taste of. Where will the products in the stores for the people come from? There must be measures to develop and stimulate these industries," the interlocutor said.
Stefan Yanev predicts that the cabinet will last until they manage to manage the money and loans. When the money runs out - early elections are coming.