Bulgaria Seems to Have Had a Change of Heart: Sofia Begs Russia to Reconsider South Stream

"Moscow is ready to extend the TurkStream gas pipeline to Bulgaria and restart the project of building a nuclear power plant in Belene", said President Putin, following talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov. Earlier, Sofia halted both projects and has now come to regret it. Mr. Borisov visited Russia following the Bulgarian President's visit to Sochi last week. Pavel Zarubin reporting. Mr. Putin offers a handshake while the Bulgarian Prime Minister is reaching for a hug as if several years of tensions between the two countries never happened. Boyko Borisov, who worked very hard to make sure that the South Stream pipeline and the Belena nuclear power plant projects were terminated, said in the Kremlin today: "We've learned our lessons". Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria: "I take responsibility for creating tension in our relations. Thank you for not holding it against me". Sofia is now asking Russia to extend the second TurkStream pipeline so that the flow of Russian gas to other European countries passes through Bulgaria. The changes in Bulgaria's actions are not unexpected. The situation is crystal clear. In following the EU's orders and instructions for several years, Bulgaria was inflicting damage upon itself but hoped to get aid in return. However, the damage was critical and no compensation from the EU was received. Today the Bulgarian Prime Minister clearly explained what's been going on. Boyko Borisov: "We're the most loyal, the most disciplined country in the EU. That's why we're now left out of all gas steam projects. I'm very grateful that Russia doesn't hold it against us. The older are always willing to forgive more". Vladimir Putin: "I'm not sure who's the older and who's the younger one here. The older side is usually encouraged to pay. But we understand what you're talking about, and we know that Bulgaria also understands that large-scale projects require guarantees, in particular, financial guarantees. Gazprom's losses from the termination of the South Stream pipeline project amounted to about 800 million euros. Well, we had to write it off as a total loss". This means that although Russia is willing to restore cooperation with Bulgaria, it's also learned its lesson. So far, no decisions have been made, but detailed discussions are underway. Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the President of Russia: "Both Bulgaria and Russia are interested in this matter. We will be working on it". The price and volumes are yet to be defined, based on the whole picture of Russian gas supplies to Europe. Vladimir Putin: "The construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been actively discussed lately. How much gas will be delivered through it? How much gas will be delivered through Ukraine? By the way, we're willing to preserve the Ukrainian transit. Another question is, how much gas will our customers need now and in the future? The goals that the Prime Minister and I discussed today are absolutely realistic because the work on the TurkStream pipeline is coming to an end". Russia and Bulgaria may also restart the Beleno nuclear power plant project. Earlier, the situation deteriorated due to absurd actions by the Bulgarian side. After reactors units were built and delivered, the project was put on hold. Sofia finally realized that its cooperation with Russia is essential to Bulgaria. Vladimir Putin: "Lukoil, one of our companies, invested over 3 billion dollars in your economy. Investments of just one Russian company comprise 25% of the Bulgarian state budget revenues. I think it says a lot". Over the last few months, Bulgaria has made several attempts to demonstrate that it's willing to restore relations with Russia. For example, it recently refused to expel Russian diplomats. - Was the so-called Skripal case discussed? Vladimir Putin: No, we didn't discuss the Skripal case. Hopefully, one day we'll have a constructive dialogue on the matter with our British colleagues. After several years of no summits between the Russian and Bulgarian presidents, contact between the two countries is now significantly more frequent. Bulgaria has invited President Putin to pay the country an official visit. Pavel Zarubin, Pavel Kostrikov, Alexander Feoktistov, and Pyotr Rovnov, Vesti, Kremlin.