SOFIA, November 22. /TASS/. Russia’s launch of the Oreshnik ballistic missile in response to Western weapons being used to attack its territory can be seen as a wake-up call that all parties involved need to make more efforts toward peace, Krasimir Karakachanov, Bulgaria’s former prime minister and defense chief, said in an interview with TASS.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement came in response to the actions of the current US administration, which seems intent on leaving insurmountable problems for incoming US president Donald Trump, especially in relation to escalating the military conflict. Russia has demonstrated its significant capabilities so as to deter a number of politicians, primarily the incumbent US president, from sparking a global conflict. The launch of the Oreshnik missile was a move to enforce peace and a call for the launch of a constructive dialogue," Karakachanov noted.

"I hope common sense will prevail in this situation. Putin’s response - his statement and the actions of the Aerospace Forces - makes it clear that Russia will not tolerate attacks on its territory. European politicians need to think twice about what they do next, especially since Donald Trump, who will take office in two months, replacing the current White House occupant, has already expressed his commitment to the policy of peace and called for ending the conflict as soon as possible," the politician, who heads the VMRO - Bulgarian National Movement party, added.

"It’s not only Russians and Ukrainians that are losing from the ongoing war. Europeans are losing a lot, particularly in economic terms. The conflict has to stop," Karakachanov stressed.

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian Armed Forces had carried out a strike on a Ukrainian defense industry facility using the Oreshnik non-nuclear hypersonic missile. The attack came in retaliation against the use of US-and UK-made weapons for strikes on Russia, Putin said. The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow developed intermediate-and shorter-range missiles in light of US plans to produce and deploy such weapons to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.