"History has taught us that every retreat before the aggressor leads to new and more serious conflicts. Therefore, Bulgaria has no right to hesitate. Support for Ukraine is support for our own security. Without Ukraine and the EU at the negotiating table, there can be no peace. Listening and bowing to the corners is tantamount to accepting that we remain in the gray area in Putin's backyard, where brute force and corruption replace the law and personal freedom."
This is what "Democratic Bulgaria" says in its declaration sent to the media on ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and strengthening the defense and security of Bulgaria and Europe.
Here is the full text of the declaration:
The crisis of the transatlantic partnership confronts the European Union with the challenge of consolidating itself around the will to be an independent subject of strategic initiative in the field of security, capable of defending its sovereignty and the values of freedom, human dignity and democracy.
Before our eyes, a political core of the union is being formed from the states that are aware of this strategic imperative. Those who know that if they are not united by the willingness to share the responsibilities associated with independence, they will become a powerless object of trade and division of spheres of influence between the new “great powers”.
Ukraine is a front line of this choice, because Putin has always explicitly emphasized that his aggression is aimed at establishing his exclusive sphere of imperial influence throughout Eastern Europe. When he speaks of peace, he speaks of “Russian peace”. About bestial resignation to despotism and violence.
This confronts Bulgaria with a fateful dilemma. Will we join the core of Europe, proving our will to defend our own sovereignty and historical subjectivity - as part of a strong Europe, or will we voluntarily accept the fate of being “distributed” like a herd on a napkin once again. This choice will determine the lives of each of us for generations to come. It requires active and multifaceted political actions, subordinated to a clear overall strategy. Listening and bowing to the sidelines is tantamount to accepting that we will remain in the gray area in Putin's backyard, where brute force and corruption replace law and personal freedom.
"Democratic Bulgaria“ is aware of its historical mission to defend our homeland's belonging to the core of a strong Europe and to fight against the creeping Putinization. Our national interest and the personal interests of every free European and patriot unequivocally require that Bulgaria deserves its place in the core of a strong Europe.
On March 6, an extraordinary European Council will be held in Brussels, dedicated to the defense of Europe and the situation in Ukraine. The agenda of the President of the Council, Antonio Costa, includes key topics related to Europe's resilience and its ability to respond to current and future security challenges. European leaders will discuss the prospects for a lasting and just peace and the European contribution to security guarantees in Ukraine and on the entire continent.
Bulgaria must be an active participant in this dialogue. We insist that the Bulgarian government finally take a dignified and categorical position at the upcoming European Council.
Bulgaria was not invited to the meeting in London. The downgrading, the lack of an active position, the meaningless declaration of the National Assembly and the refusal to include in it a text that Russia is an aggressor, the meeting of a minister and Bulgarian politicians with the ambassador of the Russian Federation, who declared Bulgaria an enemy state, the permanent positions of President Rumen Radev that coincide with the Kremlin, repeated by the Speaker of Parliament and other politicians, are signals to our European partners. They read them and refrain from inviting Bulgaria to participate in discussions about the security and future of Europe, placing us on the periphery, in the company of self-isolating countries such as Hungary and Slovakia.
It is time for the rulers to wake up and take a position that presents us as worthy Bulgarians and Europeans. At this crucial moment for the future of Europe, our country must clearly and categorically join the efforts for European unity in defense and guaranteeing a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, and not stoop.
Any attempts to place Bulgaria on the periphery of Europe, alongside those countries that insist on the capitulation of Ukraine without guarantees of a just and sustainable peace, are not only unacceptable - they seriously betray our national interest.
The aggression of the Putin regime is aimed not only at Ukraine, but also at restoring Russia's dominance in Eastern Europe. This is in direct contradiction to the interests of every free citizen and puts at risk not only the current geopolitical stability, but also the democratic development of the region.
History has taught us that any retreat before the aggressor leads to new and more serious conflicts. Therefore, Bulgaria has no right to hesitate. Support for Ukraine is support for our own security.
Without Ukraine and the EU at the negotiating table, there can be no peace.
A just peace can only be with the consent of Ukraine. Only Ukrainians have the right to decide how long to fight for their sovereignty and when resistance becomes pointless. Any attempt to force them from the outside to stop their resistance and accept peace conditions that contradict their will means for Ukraine that the conflict will be frozen until a new and even bloodier outbreak, and for Europe and the world - that the right of the strong to take whatever they want by force will be recognized as legitimate. This will be in blatant contradiction with the Bulgarian national interest and security.
Peace and security on the continent cannot be achieved without the active participation of the European Union, without strengthening Ukraine's positions in future peace negotiations, by uniting Europe's efforts to provide stable guarantees for peace.
Any attempts to conduct these negotiations without Ukraine and Europe would be a legitimization of Russian aggression – in complete contradiction with the principles of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, which are the foundation of the European Union.
Such an approach would be a defeat and compromise of the principles of international law.
Guided entirely by the national interest and security in Europe, Bulgaria should clearly declare its support for a lasting and just peace, based on:
- The principles of international law;
- The sovereignty and territorial integrity of states;
- The protection of human rights and the upholding of democratic values.
Political, diplomatic, military-technical and humanitarian support for Ukraine must remain a Bulgarian and European priority until the cessation of hostilities and the subsequent restoration of the attacked country.
· European security is a Bulgarian national interest.
Bulgarian national interest requires the government to actively advocate for more investment in the European Union's defense capacity, which will lead to Europe's strategic autonomy in the security sphere.
European economies and industries must urgently adapt to the new geopolitical realities.
Europe must strengthen its strategic autonomy in the security and defense sphere. Bulgaria cannot stand aside from this process. On the contrary, we must be at the core of the common European efforts to build a stronger, more cohesive and more independent Europe, capable of protecting its interests and citizens.
· Our budget must be adequate to the new realities. It is necessary to plan increased defense spending and implement various financial instruments at the European and national levels for increased investment in defense and security.
Investments in defense bring economic progress. Countries that invest in their defense not only strengthen their security, but also stimulate economic growth, attract more investment and promote innovative technologies.
Bulgaria and Europe must put public investments, industry and energy at the service of security. This means new opportunities and competitiveness in the field of high technology, energy and defense industry.
Bulgaria must find its place in the core of countries that guarantee the security of Europe.
In the new reality, there are no small and large countries - there are countries that take responsibility and those that are afraid.
Bulgaria cannot belittle itself, it must not diminish its role and importance. Bulgaria is not small. If there is something small, it is the mentality of those who hesitate and do not realize the importance of security as a national priority.
We are on the eastern flank of the European Union – we are in a strategically vulnerable, but also important position. Our role can be key in terms of European security, if we realize our national interest and categorically maintain our geopolitical positioning.
In response to the challenges facing Europe's security and defense - Bulgaria must be part of a strong, united and consolidated European position. Only in this way can we meet the growing threats and guarantee our security.
We call on the Bulgarian government to state categorically that:
- Taking into account the weakening of international security guarantees, Bulgaria will be an active participant in the common efforts to develop a strong and consolidated European position to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and to adopt decisions related to strengthening the security and defense of Europe;
- Bulgaria will have a worthy voice and position in all formats between European countries and NATO members related to the military, economic and energy security of Europe;
- Will support Ukraine until the full restoration of its sovereignty and will insist on peace negotiations with the active participation of the European Union;
- Will invest in national security and defense as a means of economic growth, industrial development and increasing our strategic autonomy;
- Will work for the accelerated modernization of the Bulgarian Army and the development of the Bulgarian military-industrial complex, which can become highly competitive within the framework of European defense initiatives.
Today Bulgaria must make a strategic choice:
- To be at the core of the unified European response to provide guarantees for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and build European defense and security or
- To remain on the periphery, allowing others to determine its future.
For Bulgaria, the periphery is not a choice, but a disgrace. Downgrading is not a solution, but a betrayal of our national interest.
It is time for courage, it is time for action!