In an interview with the TASS Agency on the eve of his participation in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev expressed hope for direct supplies of Russian gas to Bulgaria through the Black Sea and that the project for the construction of Belene NPP would be realized. "I am convinced that our economic cooperation with Russia must evolve, despite sanctions and counter-measures - the way our western partners are doing it, especially in the energy sphere, while keeping with important principles such as competitiveness, transparency, security of supply and price, which a very important factor for Bulgaria," President Radev pointed out. During the first day of his visit he is also to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.