Moscow positively perceives the statements of the future Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rumen Radev on the need for a pragmatic dialogue with Russia, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by TASS, BTA reports.
"We, of course, are impressed by the words of Mr. Radev, who won the elections, as well as some other European leaders, about the readiness to resolve problems through dialogue," the Russian presidential press secretary told journalists.
According to him, Russia has never refused dialogue. "On the contrary, we are looking for dialogue, but most often in Europe this does not find reciprocity", Peskov pointed out.
Asked to comment on whether after Radev's victory and other events there could be talk of a possibility of warming in Russian-European relations, the Kremlin representative pointed out that it would be premature to believe that there are such signs for now.
"In my opinion, it is too early to draw such categorical conclusions that the pan-European climate (with regard to Russia) has changed. We still see that the statements coming from Brussels are of a completely different nature," he added.
According to the latest data, with 98.78% of the protocols of the section election commissions (SECs) processed, Radev's "Progressive Bulgaria" party is leading in yesterday's elections with 44.659% of the votes. Second are GERB – UDF with 13.386%, followed by “We continue the change – Democratic Bulgaria“ (PP – DB) with 12.705%. The composition of the emerging five-party parliament is completed by “The Movement for Rights and Freedoms“ (DPS) with 6.956% and “Vazrazhdane“ with 4.271%.
Asked by journalists on election night at what price the dialogue with Russia should be resumed and whether this would not create problems with the European Union, Rumen Radev told journalists to ask the President of France, the Prime Minister of Belgium and other European leaders, including the Chancellor of Germany, “who stated months ago that this dialogue should be resumed“.
If we want Europe to have strategic autonomy, Europe must restore its competitiveness and stop the process of deindustrialization. Europe must think very seriously about how it will guarantee its resources, because without energy resources we cannot talk about competitiveness, Radev said. He added that he expects Europe to be much more pragmatic.
Earlier, European Council President Antonio Costa and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulated Radev on his victory.
The European Commission refrained from commenting on the outcome of the elections in Bulgaria until the final results are announced.