Russia Seeks New Ally in the EU Following Orbán’s Weakening — WP
Following the weakening of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s position, Russia is trying to find a new ally in the European Union—the Kremlin’s attention is focused on Bulgaria.
This is reported by The Washington Post.
The focus is on politician Rumen Radev, who is considered the favorite to become Bulgaria’s prime minister and who, according to analysts, has demonstrated loyalty to the Kremlin.
The article notes that ahead of the country’s elections, social media networks promoting Radev’s political movement have become more active. Some experts view this as part of an organized influence campaign by Russia.
Former Bulgarian Ambassador Ilian Vassilev stated that Russia is seeking to compensate for its loss of influence in Hungary: “It is more than likely that the Russians hope Bulgaria will help fill this void.”
At the same time, analysts emphasize that Bulgaria is unlikely to become a “second Hungary” for the Kremlin, as Radev will have to form a coalition with other political forces to establish a government.
Despite this, experts do not rule out that the country could play a role in destabilizing the EU and strengthening pro-Russian influence in the region.
Bulgarian police detained 30 people as part of a large-scale operation to combat voter bribery ahead of the early parliamentary elections.
A test train service between Ukraine and Bulgaria via Romania is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2026.
