Trump and Bulgarian leader discuss energy, NATO

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov have discussed energy issues facing the central European nation that’s heavily dependent on Russian energy.

In a joint statement Monday, the U.S. said it welcomes Bulgaria’s aspirations to become a regional natural gas hub.

Bulgaria was Moscow’s closest ally during the Cold War and later joined NATO and the European Union, but it remains reliant on Russia to power the nation.

Trump’s meeting Monday with the Bulgarian leader is the latest in a series of engagements the president has had this year with leaders from Central Europe nations, most situated on the eastern flank of NATO.

Trump has met with his counterparts from Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and Romania.