Moscow has praised what it describes as a shift in Bulgaria’s rhetoric toward Russia and the war in Ukraine since the government led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev took office, saying Sofia’s position has become more restrained and includes what it called “rational elements.” “After the new government headed by the country’s former president Radev came to power in Bulgaria, the rhetoric of official Sofia on the topic of Russia and the crisis around Ukraine has become more restrained, has acquired rational elements,” Pilipson said. He said Sofia has also warned against attempts to achieve a military victory over Russia and stressed the need to pursue diplomatic solutions. At the same time, he stressed that questions concerning Bulgaria’s collective security should be addressed within NATO and the European Union. Despite his positive assessment of the current Bulgarian rhetoric, Pilipson said Moscow does not yet believe conditions exist for restoring what he described as mutually beneficial Russian-Bulgarian cooperation.