Is Bulgaria pro-Russian? Bulgaria–Russia relations in 2026, explained

There is no simple yes or no. Bulgaria as a state remains inside NATO and the EU. In July 2026 Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said its foreign policy is “fully anchored” in both, BTA reported. But Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s government, in office since May 2026, says it seeks dialogue with Moscow. Polls show roughly one Bulgarian in five sees Russia as the main strategic partner.

As of 26 October 2026. Varna Pulse does not take sides; every view below is attributed to its source.

What has the Radev government actually done?

Facts, with dates (the details are in our Ukraine aid and sanctions page):

• 25 April 2026: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “impressed by Radev’s words about his readiness to resolve problems through pragmatic dialogue with Russia”, Novinite reported.
• 8 July 2026: NATO leaders, Bulgaria included, agreed the Ankara Summit Declaration, which speaks of “the long-term threat Russia poses to Euro-Atlantic security”.
• 19 July 2026: Petrova said Bulgaria “cannot afford simply to follow one major power or another without question” (BTA, paraphrasing her).
• By August 2026: Radev had sent an ambassador to Kyiv “after a gap of 4.5 years”, the Hudson Institute noted.
• 14 October 2026: Radev told parliament Russia has a motive for the drone attacks on ships off Bulgaria’s coast but Bulgaria cannot prove its guilt, Sofia Globe reported.

How do analysts read it?

Pragmatic balancing. The Atlantic Council’s Kristian Kafozov argued in May 2026 that Bulgaria is “unlikely to become Putin’s new proxy” and will look more like Prague or Bratislava than Budapest. Hudson’s Matthew Boyse wrote that Radev is “not another Viktor Orban”, though he accommodates Moscow “more explicitly” than his predecessors.

Accommodation concerns. ECFR’s Todor Tagarev expected Radev to “act more like Robert Fico” and noted Radev has said sanctions “only harm the economies of Russia and the European Union”. On 22 October 2026 the European Parliament voted 432 to 52 (88 abstentions) for a resolution regretting Sofia’s “weak diplomatic response” to Russia. Radev called the conduct of the Bulgarian MEPs behind it “unacceptable ignorance and manipulation”. On 20 October a protest outside the Presidency, titled “Your ‘peace’ is capitulation!”, drew a large turnout, Sofia Globe reported; Radev said its backers “want to push us to war”.

What do Bulgarians think of Russia, Putin and NATO?

Pollster (fieldwork)	Question	Result
Alpha Research for HSSF (2024)	Approval of Russia / Putin	31.8% / 22.1% (60.1% / 45.2% in 2018)
Alpha Research (20–28 Feb 2025, n=1,000)	Positive attitude to Russia / USA	48% / 52%
Alpha Research (20–28 Feb 2025, n=1,000)	NATO membership	39% positive, 30% negative
Alpha Research (Mar 2026), cited by ECFR	Main strategic partner	Europe over 56%, Russia 19.5%, USA 8%

According to Sofia Globe, the 2024 survey also found a majority see Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine. We found no national poll on attitudes to Russia published after March 2026.

Why did Bulgaria expel 70 Russian diplomats?

In June 2022 PM Kiril Petkov said they worked “against the interests of our country”, Sofia Globe reported; Bulgaria then capped Russian embassy staff at 23 diplomats and 25 administrative staff (Balkan Insight). Two months earlier, Gazprom had demanded payment for gas in roubles; Bulgaria refused and supplies were halted (see our energy page). The deeper roots, from 1878 to Soviet monuments, are in our history explainer.

Is there Russian disinformation in Bulgaria?

A March 2026 report by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), published by the EDMO hub BROD, says Bulgaria “faces sustained Russian information manipulation pressure compounded by a deeply embedded domestic amplification ecosystem”.

Is Bulgaria leaving NATO?

No. It is not government policy. The opposition party Vazrazhdane wants a vote on membership (RFE/RL, 2022) and tabled a bill to leave in March 2024 (Novinite). Its leader, Kostadin Kostadinov, came third in the 2026 presidential first round.

What it means for Varna

Varna hosts the navy and sits next to the waters where ships were hit by drones, so these debates shape local security. For visitors and residents, daily life is unaffected: Bulgaria remains in NATO, the EU and Schengen. The 1 November runoff between Iliana Yotova and Andrey Gyurov is partly a vote on this question.