Bulgarian party leader lays claim to Ukrainian territory
Kostadin Kostadinov asserts that Bulgaria holds a historical right to claim a portion of southern Ukraine amid the country's disintegration. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of the far-right eurosceptic Revival Party in Bulgaria, asserted that the country holds a historical claim to a portion of southern Ukraine, citing long-standing ties.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Kostadinov responded to recent remarks made by incoming US President Donald Trump about the possibility of the US reclaiming the Panama Canal and annexing Canada. He endorsed Trump's stance as “entirely justified,” emphasizing the cultural and historical connections between Canada and the US, stating that “there is nothing more logical and normal” than for closely related nations to unite. He noted that the US was the owner and builder of the Panama Canal until 1979.
Kostadinov suggested that a similar rationale could be applied to Bulgaria and Ukraine. He mentioned that the region of Southern Bessarabia, now part of Odessa Region in Ukraine, belonged to the Bulgarian state for over 450 years, while it has been under Ukrainian control for only 34 years. He also asserted that ethnic Bulgarians constitute the majority population in Southern Bessarabia.
“This is why it is entirely logical for… Southern Bessarabia to return to Bulgaria. Ukraine is disintegrating, and at the future peace congress, where the fate of the so-called Ukrainian statehood will be decided, Bulgaria must assert its claims to Bulgarian Bessarabia,” he stated.
In response, Ukraine's embassy in Bulgaria criticized Kostadinov's comments as “unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state” and indicated that they reflect a promotion of Kremlin narratives. The embassy urged Bulgarian officials to denounce these remarks and to reject rhetoric that “distorts historical facts, incites the redrawing of European borders, and undermines international law.” Revival is currently the third largest political party in the Bulgarian parliament.
Southern Bessarabia, which includes parts of modern Ukraine and Moldova, was incorporated into the First Bulgarian Empire and briefly the Second Bulgarian Empire. The region has historically been valued for its strategic location along the Danube River and Black Sea coast for trade and defense. Over time, Bulgarian influence waned as various powers, including the Golden Horde, Ottoman Empire, and Russian Empire, took control of the area.
The region has been home to a diverse array of ethnic groups, including Bulgarians, Romanians, Gagauz, Ukrainians, and Russians. Many Bulgarians in this area are descendants of settlers who arrived during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Kostadinov responded to recent remarks made by incoming US President Donald Trump about the possibility of the US reclaiming the Panama Canal and annexing Canada. He endorsed Trump's stance as “entirely justified,” emphasizing the cultural and historical connections between Canada and the US, stating that “there is nothing more logical and normal” than for closely related nations to unite. He noted that the US was the owner and builder of the Panama Canal until 1979.
Kostadinov suggested that a similar rationale could be applied to Bulgaria and Ukraine. He mentioned that the region of Southern Bessarabia, now part of Odessa Region in Ukraine, belonged to the Bulgarian state for over 450 years, while it has been under Ukrainian control for only 34 years. He also asserted that ethnic Bulgarians constitute the majority population in Southern Bessarabia.
“This is why it is entirely logical for… Southern Bessarabia to return to Bulgaria. Ukraine is disintegrating, and at the future peace congress, where the fate of the so-called Ukrainian statehood will be decided, Bulgaria must assert its claims to Bulgarian Bessarabia,” he stated.
In response, Ukraine's embassy in Bulgaria criticized Kostadinov's comments as “unacceptable for a politician of an EU member state” and indicated that they reflect a promotion of Kremlin narratives. The embassy urged Bulgarian officials to denounce these remarks and to reject rhetoric that “distorts historical facts, incites the redrawing of European borders, and undermines international law.” Revival is currently the third largest political party in the Bulgarian parliament.
Southern Bessarabia, which includes parts of modern Ukraine and Moldova, was incorporated into the First Bulgarian Empire and briefly the Second Bulgarian Empire. The region has historically been valued for its strategic location along the Danube River and Black Sea coast for trade and defense. Over time, Bulgarian influence waned as various powers, including the Golden Horde, Ottoman Empire, and Russian Empire, took control of the area.
The region has been home to a diverse array of ethnic groups, including Bulgarians, Romanians, Gagauz, Ukrainians, and Russians. Many Bulgarians in this area are descendants of settlers who arrived during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
