“In my conversation with the American president, I insistently raised ​the issue of lifting US visa requirements ​for Bulgarian citizens, and I expect this ⁠matter to be considered urgently,” Radev said ​before chairing a cabinet meeting.

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NATO ​member Bulgaria hosts US military aircraft in its capital, Sofia.

Bulgaria has said more than a dozen US aircraft are ​authorised to transit through Bulgarian airspace and ​land in Sofia for refuelling until the end of May.

Radev ‌said ⁠he spoke to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and expected a request for US military aircraft to remain in Sofia beyond May.

Radev won a ​landslide election ​victory in ⁠a parliamentary election on April 19.

Some saw his campaign as Kremlin-friendly as ​he raised concerns about Bulgaria joining ​the ⁠eurozone and about military support for Ukraine.

Radev denies he is pro-Russian and says that he ⁠will ​follow an EU path and ​has already met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.