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Marco Setaccioli challenged Marco Travaglio's calculations on European and Russian military spending, stating that Travaglio had indicated 450 billion euros for Europe and 150 for Russia and had argued that Russia had reason to fear Europe, which had invaded it four times in the last 200 years. According to Setaccioli, in the current year Russia would have spent around 17 trillion rubles on defense, equivalent to 181 billion euros, a figure indicated, according to him, by most analysts. He noted that the nominal comparison did not take purchasing power into account: applying indices developed by specialized research centers, Russian spending would rise to 574 billion international dollars, compared to about 700 billion for the entire EU. He added that the EU would have three and a half times the population of Russia and a GDP nine times greater. Setaccioli argued that the Russian federal budget did not show all military costs. He cited studies by economist Craig Kennedy, according to which part of the spending would be financed through subsidized loans and would thus remain on the banks' balance sheets. He also recalled an investigation by Dozhd', which, according to him, had documented pressures on private companies to hire people before signing contracts with the military and to supplement salaries with corporate funds. He added that at least three militias would be linked to Gazprom, which would cover part of the costs. For these reasons, he dismissed as false the claim that Russia spent less than the EU. Historically, Setaccioli criticized Travaglio's reconstruction, according to which the Napoleonic and Nazi invasions, along with interventions in Crimea and support for the Bolsheviks, would justify Russian fears toward Europe. Setaccioli listed Russian troop interventions in Poland in 1939, Finland in 1939-1940, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania in 1940, Bulgaria in 1944, Hungary in 1956, Czechoslovakia in 1968, Moldova in 1992, Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. He stated that there were no Russian regions occupied by European countries, while eight regions—one in Moldova, two in Georgia, and five in Ukraine—would be under Russian control. Finally, Setaccioli accused Travaglio of presenting a selective and misleading reconstruction to make Russia appear not dangerous, portray Europe as a threat, and argue that rearmament was unnecessary and risky. In his view, that reasoning could legitimize a potential Russian attack on Europe and constituted a form of collaborationism. #Russia #Europa #Difesa (translated)

The author considered the proposal a good start and suggested next sending a battle group composed of NATO countries' naval forces to Romania and Bulgaria's economic waters to protect the area's maritime traffic, including Ukraine's maritime traffic. According to him, this way Russia would understand that provocation is not always worthwhile. #Nato #Meriliikenne #Ukraina #RO #BG #UA #RU (translated)

The recent attacks on ships in the Black Sea raise concerns in the tourism sector of Bulgaria, where hoteliers fear that the country's reputation as a safe destination could be affected, thereby influencing bookings for the summer season, especially considering that Bulgaria has requested NATO support to strengthen its defense. #TurismBulgaria #MareaNeagră #AtacuriDronă (translated)

What is certain is that there is a transport corridor that Ukraine has used for its products, following the outline of the coastline from Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria to Turkey and then further. And in the last ten days, we have had attacks exactly on this corridor. It is too early to technically prove that it was a Russian attack, but our intuition tells us that the beneficiary of this situation of uncertainty is Russia. This is where we are at the moment. The President of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, stated on Friday evening that it is too early to say with certainty that the recent attacks in the Black Sea have been orchestrated by Russia, but he specified that "the beneficiary of this situation of uncertainty" is Russia. #Rusia #MareaNeagră #atacuri (translated)

I expect a quick response and a reinforcement of our capabilities. In a press conference, Stoyanov emphasized that the attacks in the Black Sea are increasing day by day, highlighting "the importance of modernizing the Bulgarian Armed Forces and expanding their defensive capabilities," quoted by the news agency BGNES. #Bulgária #NATO #Defesa (translated)

Russian attacks in the Black Sea, which have also targeted merchant ships near Bulgaria and Romania, are causing serious concerns for maritime security and hindering Ukrainian grain exports, amid an escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. #MarNero #ExportGrano #ConflittoUcraina (translated)

It is evident that there are attempts by Russia, not only in Romania but also in Bulgaria, to destabilize societies, to decrease support for Ukraine, and our response is - we continue to support Ukraine. This is our answer. All details as investigations evolve. Nicușor Dan also said, at the end of the meeting, that there is "a need for equipment for a new type of challenge" regarding the incidents in the Black Sea. #MareaNeagră #NATO #SecuritateEuropenă (translated)

I sent letters and a request to the Secretary General of NATO and the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, asking them to strengthen our capabilities, which also means deploying additional forces on our territory. We are waiting for their decision," said Dimitar Stoyanov. #Bulgaria #MareaNeagră #NATO (translated)

It is evident that there are attempts by Russia, not only in Romania and Bulgaria, but in European countries, especially those on the Eastern Flank, to destabilize societies and to decrease support for Ukraine. Nicușor Dan, the president of Romania: "It is evident that there are attempts by Russia, not only in Romania and Bulgaria, but in European countries, especially those on the Eastern Flank, to destabilize societies and to decrease support for Ukraine." #NATO #Securitate #MareaNeagră (translated)