Espreso. Global

Bulgaria accuses Hungary, Serbia of feeding Putin's "war machine"

28 October, 2023 Saturday
12:20

The Bulgarian leader accused Hungary and Serbia of not looking for alternative sources of energy supplies, instead financing Russia's war in Ukraine

client/title.list_title

This is reported by Bloomberg.

The leader of Bulgaria on Friday, October 27, during the European Union summit in Brussels accused Hungary and Serbia of contributing to the Kremlin's "war machine" by not looking for alternative sources of energy supplies amid an escalating dispute over a tax on gas imports.

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said that his government has no plans to abandon the tax on Russian gas transiting Bulgaria and that its goal is to deprive the state-controlled exporter Gazprom of profits used to finance the war against Ukraine.

Hungary described the move announced this month as a “hostile act” and Serbia said the tax threatened to cut off vital fuel supplies to the region.

"There was enough time to look for alternatives, to see that these profits are feeding Putin's war machine. Actually, this should have happened earlier," Denkov said.

The standoff demonstrates how Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion has changed energy supplies in a region where disruptions have caused the worst cost-of-living crisis for consumers in decades. Gazprom's Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which runs under the Black Sea to Turkey and crosses Bulgaria, provides key fuel supplies to several smaller Western Balkan countries as well.

Denkov, who insisted that the regulation was in line with EU rules, said he was open to talks with both Budapest and Belgrade. At the same time, he accused the governments of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic of stoking unfounded fears of price increases instead of engaging in negotiations.

Bulgaria was one of the first EU member states to be cut off from Russian supplies after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to the acceleration of long-term projects to secure imports from Azerbaijan and regional liquefied natural gas terminals in Greece and Turkey.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Friday
11 October
21:28
Slovakia intends to expand repair base for Ukrainian military equipment
21:05
Europe won't be secure until Ukraine is in NATO - former U.S. ambassador
20:47
Updated
Ukraine to share list of journalists in Russian captivity with Vatican after Zelenskyy-Pope meeting
20:31
OPINION
What's behind word 'peace'?
20:08
Deceased journalist Roshchyna held in Russian detention center known for brutal torture
19:49
Affiliate Material
Rebuilding Ukraine: Sumy region's recovery from Russian occupation
19:30
Exclusive
Delivery of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine set to outpace F-16 timeline
19:12
Ukraine’s strikes on ammo depots poise Russia to face shell crisis - Estonian intelligence
18:55
78 clashes occur at front on Oct. 11: Ukraine's General Staff names hottest areas
18:33
Affiliate Material
Reconstruction progress in Odesa region: сompensation timeline, application process
18:10
Scholz pledges €1.4 billion in aid for Ukraine during talks with Zelenskyy
17:51
Exclusive
Russia's advance in Kupyansk sector: Ukrainian military reveals strategic objectives
17:32
Interpol-wanted Islamic State member detained in Kyiv
17:13
Russian troops advance in Toretsk, reinforce defence near Chasiv Yar - Ukrainian military
16:54
Russia damages at least 1,641 schools in Ukraine, destroys 201 more
16:36
OPINION
Is Ukraine just one step from NATO and victory?
16:15
Exclusive
Kim Jong-Un will not send troops to Ukraine due to U.S. threat — Ukrainian general
15:59
Russian troops face logistical crisis following destruction of Feodosia oil depot — Atesh guerrillas
15:41
Exclusive
Ukrainian general names timeline for delivery of French Mirage aircraft
15:24
Ukrainian intelligence's cyber specialists target Russian military educational institutions
14:58
Russia to accept tangerines as currency amid payment difficulties caused by sanctions
14:36
Affiliate Material
War in Ukraine: Reconstruction progress in Chernihiv region and key factors delaying recovery efforts
14:03
Over 70% of wounded Ukrainian military return to service - Medical Forces Commander 
13:35
OPINION
Kadyrov's blood revenge. What it means for Russian elites
13:14
Ukrainian journalist dies in Russian captivity: Ukraine launches war crime and murder investigation
12:36
Exclusive
Russia aims to advance towards Ukrainian logistics routes in Kursk region assault — military expert
11:50
Ukrainian Armed Forces control 40-50% of Toretsk - City Military Administration
11:27
ISW analyzes impact of Ukraine's strikes on Russian ammunition depots on frontline dynamics
11:03
169 clashes erupt on Russian-Ukrainian frontline, with Russia pushing in Lyman direction
10:40
Russia captures 3 settlements near Myrnohrad in Pokrovsk direction - DeepState
10:17
Ukraine, China discuss political settlement of war launched by Russia
09:55
Russian troops attack Odesa region, killing 4 people, including teenager
09:36
Russia loses military helicopter, 8 tanks and 1,140 soldiers in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Thursday
10 October
21:20
Radio Liberty journalists come under Russian fire in Bakhmut sector
21:05
Ukraine's MoD approves over 140 new UAV models for operation in 2024
20:50
Norway allocates EUR 82 million to boost production of weapons for Ukraine
20:32
Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna dies in Russian captivity
20:15
Exclusive
North Korean soldiers may appear in Ukraine - Defense Express
19:55
Could hypothetical invitation to NATO not be trap for Ukraine?
19:40
Russian army hits almost 300 objects of Ukraine's port infrastructure in 3 months
More news