Sofia, 26 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Bulgaria's Vice President Ilijana Iotova has called for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine after the Kremlin's announcement of plans to transfer Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus.

The situation is becoming "increasingly dangerous and frightening," she said, adding that is why she and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev keep calling for negotiations.

"These are not empty words," Iotova said. This is Bulgaria's wish because more armaments in all countries lead to unpredictable decisions and now there is a real threat.

Her comments came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Minsk had agreed on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

"I hope that reason will prevail after all. And that this case is more about threats than real action," Iotova said.

Bulgaria's parliament only approved a first military aid package to Ukraine at the end of 2022 and Radev repeatedly criticized the decision by the pro-Western majority in the People's Assembly which has since been dissolved.