In an interview for the BBC Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov has said that he stands behind the recent comments of President Rosen Plevneliev that Russia as a "nationalist, aggressive state" ruled by a president who sees Europe as an opponent, not as a partner. "We have always tried to build an equal partnership with Russia based on mutual respect, unfortunately in recent years, not only towards us but also towards the whole European Union, this is not happening," the foreign minister said in the interview.