‘I fear Bulgaria will become a soft state’: Kiril Petkov on threat of Russia

Pro-Ukraine Bulgarian prime minister blames corruption and pro-Russian influence on collapse of coalition government

Staring down a vote of no-confidence his government was destined to lose, the Bulgarian prime minister, Kiril Petkov, sighed as he joined a video call. It's a tough few days ahead. We are fighting hard to stay on the right side of history," he said.

Petkov blamed two problems for his coalition's troubles: corrupt interests and pro-Russian influence in Bulgaria, which, he says, have joined forces" to bring down his government.