Bulgaria's new Prime Minister Rumen Radev met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on May 18 on his first official visit abroad since taking office, seeking to deepen economic and defence ties while calling for renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Radev was welcomed with military honours at the Federal Chancellery before holding one-on-one talks with Merz, followed by a joint press conference and a plenary session between the two delegations.

The visit underscores Bulgaria’s intention to strengthen ties with Germany – its largest trading partner – and to play a more active role within the European Union and NATO.

Speaking alongside Merz, Radev said Bulgaria had evolved into “an important industrial and logistics partner of Germany in Southeast Europe,” while acknowledging that years of political instability had held back its potential, BTA reported.

He said the country’s new government would focus on economic development, high-tech industries, artificial intelligence, energy security and productivity.

Radev also used the visit to press for a stronger Bulgarian role in Europe’s defence industry, highlighting joint projects with German firms and calling for deeper industrial cooperation beyond procurement.

“It matters to us not only to procure from Germany; for us it matters to also build strong industrial cooperation,” he said.

Merz said Bulgaria and Germany were closely linked economically and stressed the need to boost the European Union’s competitiveness by advancing the single market and reducing bureaucracy.

“European sovereignty means European capabilities and capacities for defence,” he said, warning that Europe’s defence industry remains fragmented.

Differences in tone emerged on Ukraine. Radev said “it is high time for diplomacy” and urged negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, the United States and Europe to begin as soon as possible.

“A war of attrition … wears down everyone taking part and everyone backing them,” he said.

Merz struck a firmer line on Russia, saying diplomatic progress would depend on Moscow halting attacks on civilian targets, adding that previous peace efforts had been met with further escalation.

The two leaders also discussed the European Union’s next multiannual budget, with Radev calling for a balance between new priorities such as defence and traditional policies including cohesion funds and agriculture.

Merz warned that negotiations over the bloc’s long-term budget would be difficult and could extend into late 2026, citing rising debt levels across Europe.

Radev, a former air force commander and two-term president, took office earlier this month following snap parliamentary elections. His new party, Progressive Bulgaria, won an outright majority, ending years of unstable coalition rule.