Bulgaria's Radev held secret talks with Zelenskyy aide Budanov in Sofia

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev met Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, in Sofia on Oct. 8, the government said Friday. The Council of Ministers' press office said the visit took place at Budanov's request and was kept fully confidential for security reasons, and that Budanov laid out Kyiv's views on a peaceful settlement of the war. Earlier in the day, Bulgaria's foreign and defense ministries said they had not been informed of the visit, and the presidency said President Iliana Iotova had not met him.

Speaking in Plovdiv on Friday at a university graduation ceremony, Radev said efforts to restore peace in Ukraine deserved support and that ending the fighting was in the interest of all of Europe. He said diplomacy should be given full scope through every available channel. The opposition Vazrazhdane party said it would send a formal inquiry to the government asking why Budanov was in Sofia and what was discussed. DPS leader Delyan Peevski called on the government to disclose any information it had.

On the drone strikes on two cargo ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone, Radev said: "There are logical premises that point to one country, but we have no evidence whatsoever." He said he had heard many hypotheses but had not seen a single piece of evidence. Bulgarian troops who inspected the freighter Able found no drone debris. Radev did not name a country.