During the Munich Security Conference, Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski met with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Kovacevski shared a picture of the three, adding that Blinken asked to see both countries in the EU soon – a clear message to Bulgaria that it should lift its veto against Macedonia.

Petkov later shared the same picture – but in his version, Kovacevski was cropped out. Petkov also had a different take on brief meeting – he said that Blinken assured him in the US support in fighting corruption in Bulgaria, at a time when the Government is trying to replace the State Prosecutor and investigate officials from the former Government.