DW: Why Putin Is Courting Bulgaria

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's statement in early July sounded almost apologetic: "It's understandable that President Putin spoke very sharply with regard to Bulgaria. But we have been wrongfully accused, because it is not our wish, and not our goal to freeze relations with Russia."

Borissov was referring to economic sanctions against Moscow, for which Bulgaria, in its capacity as EU member, is partly responsible. More specifically, he was answering Putin's statement in Ankara at the start of December last year, when he unexpectedly announced the end of the South Stream gas pipeline project - a project that was very important for Bulgaria. Putin put the entire blame for the failure of the project at Bulgaria's door, saying that the country was not in a position to "act as an independent state."

Now though, there's a different tone between Moscow and Sofia. 

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