Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev backed a diesel supply deal agreed by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15, breaking with other European Union leaders as they gathered in Brussels to discuss surging energy prices.
“What is our problem right now in Europe? High fuel prices. We appreciate every step that leads to a reduction in fuel prices and guarantees our competitiveness,” Radev told Euronews on arrival at the two-day EU summit.
His comments contrasted with criticism from other European leaders of the deal, which has drawn objections over its implications for Western sanctions against Moscow. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said he deeply regretted the agreement, adding that although the volumes involved were not large, it was “in the wrong direction”.
Energy prices are a key issue at the summit, alongside trade relations with China, the EU budget and EU enlargement. Oil prices have remained above $100 a barrel despite the release of strategic reserves by the Group of Seven economies, while natural gas prices have climbed to their highest levels since the winter of 2022.
Radev, who served as Bulgaria’s president from 2017 until becoming prime minister in April this year, has consistently called for dialogue with Moscow and criticised European governments for continuing to arm Ukraine without a broader strategy for ending the war.
He has argued that Ukraine cannot win the conflict on the battlefield alone and that a lasting settlement will require diplomacy. He has also warned of the risk of escalation between Russia and Europe, including a potential nuclear confrontation, while calling for a more realistic assessment of the conflict and its risks.
Radev has rejected accusations that his government is pro-Russian, saying Bulgaria should use diplomatic, economic and military instruments in dealing with the conflict. His position has drawn comparisons with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who repeatedly challenged the EU's approach to Russia and Ukraine.
His support for the diesel deal comes as the war's effects have become increasingly tangible for Bulgaria. Recent deadly drone attacks on commercial shipping in Bulgaria's Black Sea economic zone have heightened security concerns and brought the conflict closer to the Balkans.
The attacks have not appeared to shift Radev's emphasis on the urgency of finding a diplomatic solution to the war.
EU leaders are due to discuss energy costs before turning to relations with China, the bloc's long-term budget and enlargement. The summit comes amid concerns that persistently high energy prices could undermine European competitiveness and add to pressure on households and businesses.