"The suspension of gas deliveries by Gazprom is a flagrant violation of contractual obligations and a blackmail to use a non-contractual payment scheme in rubles through third parties. This guarantees neither gas deliveries, nor the money of Bulgarians. We will not succumb to such a racketeering", Premier Kiril Petkov said. The Bulgarian government is prepared to tackle the problem. There will be no reduction in gas deliveries to consumers, Petkov said.

Bulgaria’s Premier Petkov said that he had talked with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece’s Premier Mistotakis confirmed that the gas interconnector linking Bulgaria and Greece will be completed in June.

"I also spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In her words, a unilateral breach of contract by Gazprom is not just a problem for Bulgaria, but is a problem for the entire European Union and that there will be a joint repsonse", Premier Kiril Petkov added.