Russia is waging a hybrid war against Europe – drones, airspace incursions, and intimidation – and every centimeter of allied territory must be protected. Continued military assistance to Ukraine is essential, alongside a significant increase in EU – Ukraine defense-production cooperation: learn from Ukraine’s battlefield expertise to move faster and strengthen its ability to defend civilians and infrastructure.
Economic pressure must match military support. The goal is to block the Russian shadow fleet and drive to zero both import and transit of Russian resources, sharply reducing Kremlin revenues; ending Russian LNG imports is a declared political objective. Frozen Russian assets in the EU should be designated as a reparations loan to Ukraine and provided now. Diplomatically, Russia’s leadership responds only to strength; a just peace means restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity. On Taiwan, the hope is that Beijing’s economic priorities prevail over force, since broader escalation would only aid Moscow by diverting global attention.
This was stated in a lengthy interview with the Guildhall news agency by Andrey Kovatchev, Member of the European Parliament (Christian Democrats) from Bulgaria.
– I want to start with the most recent news. There were military drones over European airspace and military aircraft in Estonia’s airspace. Can we treat all these incidents as acts of Russian military aggression, given that NATO says Russia bears full responsibility?
– Russia is waging a hybrid war against the European Union and democratic countries. This clearly shows the Kremlin’s intent to escalate. We must protect every centimeter of our territories from such Russian aggression and behavior. I fully support continued assistance to Ukraine and the delivery of weapons so that Ukraine can protect its citizens and infrastructure, and also reduce Russia’s capacity to strike Ukraine and EU member states.
– Do you support a significant increase in military assistance to Ukraine as a response to these incidents with drones and planes?
– Cooperation between EU member states and Ukraine on defense production must increase. We can learn a great deal from Ukraine: its defense sector is growing and has extensive expertise – often, especially in drone production, ahead of the EU. We need to learn from each other to be faster and more efficient. Yes, we should support Ukraine and increase support for its defense capabilities.
– Beyond military aid, there are additional pressure levers that have not yet been fully used. What about the Russian shadow fleet, which is expanding despite sanctions and fueling Russia’s war budget? What more should be done to stop it? Is a full blockade in the Baltic realistic?
– That is precisely the goal – to block the Russian shadow fleet and to reduce to zero both the import and transit of Russian resources into the EU, so that this money does not fund Russia’s military budget, increase its capability to wage its war of aggression against Ukraine, or continue hybrid warfare against the EU.
– There is also the issue of Russian LNG. Can Europe completely stop importing Russian gas?
– That is our political objective. Whether we can achieve it quickly is uncertain, but we must aim for the maximum possible reduction in the flow of money to Russia from such transactions.
– Russia also holds substantial assets in Europe. Confiscating them and transferring them to Ukraine – whether as reparations or military support – could be a powerful incentive for Moscow to pursue peace. Do you support this?
– My view – and that of many colleagues – is that frozen Russian assets in the EU should be designated as a reparations loan to Ukraine and provided to Ukraine now. Later, if the Russian Federation pays reparations for the damage it caused through an international court, Ukraine would then repay that loan. If Russia does not pay, Ukraine would not have to repay. I believe this is a viable path for the EU to take with frozen Russian assets.
– Mr. Trump announced he will meet Putin in Hungary to discuss future peace agreement. Do you see any sign that Russia is ready for peace or a peace process?
– Everything is very unclear. What is the difference between the meeting in Alaska and this newly announced meeting in Budapest? Has Russia changed anything in its behavior? After Alaska, we saw increased drone attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. There was no improvement or achievement following that phone call and the announcement of a new meeting. I see no signals that Russia – or Putin – has changed its position on the war.
– Given that, do you support the idea that Russia must be pressured into peace by force?
– Unfortunately, Russia’s leadership only understands force; it does not understand diplomacy. For them, diplomacy signals weakness and is exploited to ramp up arms production and increase their strength – including through cooperation with Iran, North Korea, and China. The United States and all democratic allies must be clear: we want peace as soon as possible, but a just peace – meaning the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Ukraine is an independent country, and its people must decide their own future. As an EU candidate country, a large majority of Ukrainians see that future in Europe.
– We will move a little bit to a wider international politics. RUSI reported that Russia is encouraging China to seize Taiwan, and that a Ukrainian defeat could signal to Beijing that more aggressive action against Taiwan is possible. Do you share that view?
– I have visited Taiwan several times and know the situation reasonably well. I very much hope – and somewhat believe – that there is a difference in mentality between Russia’s leadership and China’s leadership. China has a centuries-old history and tends to be more patient. I hope they will not use military means against Taiwan. People on both sides – Taiwanese Chinese and mainland Chinese – should not be killing each other. That is my hope and my understanding of Chinese mentality: that force will not be used against Taiwan. You are right, however, that broader global escalation could benefit Russia in Ukraine by shifting the world’s attention elsewhere, allowing Moscow to do more damage in Ukraine with less scrutiny.
– Would a Ukrainian defeat signal to China that it can invade a country without facing serious countermeasures?
– It is difficult to say because mindsets in Moscow and Beijing are not the same. Beijing is far more oriented toward the economy and trade – its prosperity rests on production and global supply chains – not on destroying the international trading system. I hope economic and trade priorities will prevail, because a war against Taiwan would be disastrous for global trade.
– Turning to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine: millions of Ukrainians are living under Russian occupation. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has described Russia’s actions there as ethnic cleansing amounting to genocide. Would you support a similar resolution in the European Parliament or at home – in Bulgaria?
– The European Parliament has adopted numerous resolutions supporting Ukraine and condemning Russian atrocities – killings, torture of prisoners, and attacks on civilians. Support for Ukraine is continuous. Next week we will debate Russian assets, as discussed earlier. This remains a standing item on our agenda. The Bulgarian government is also continuing to support Ukraine in every way, including deliveries of munitions produced in Bulgaria that are compatible with legacy Soviet-standard systems.
– Thank you for that interview and your position. It was a pleasure to speak with you, sir. We will keep in touch.
– Thank you. I look forward to speaking again. All the best.
Guildhall, exclusively.
Только главные новости в нашем Telegram, Facebook и GoogleNews!
Tweet