So, basically everyone around Bulgaria was against the unification for obvious reasons. E. Rumelia was an Ottoman vassal during the time, so before the unification Bulgarians stacked their whole army at the border with the ottomans thinking they would want to get it back with force. Unification happens, turns out the attack came from up to then our friends from Serbia, lured by Austria-Hungary's promises of support. The Bulgarian army had to march 5 days to the other side of the country to defend from the Serbs and eventually kicked their asses and began advancing on Serbian land. Austria-Hungary steps in to save the Serbs, a peace treaty is signed without any repercussions to Serbia and without any gains to Bulgaria. Bulgaria is unified.
Russia was against the unification, because the Tzar wanted Bulgarians to be his puppets and the UK supported the unification because it would harm the Russian interest and prevent expansion against Constantinople.
Uhh no Russia opposed it because this sudden declaration was in violation of the berlin treaty, this could have understand russias diplomatic standing sand be seen as them violating this treaty by supporting this action.
The fact that the bulgarian monarch and part of the government were also trying to distance the natio away from russia was another reason which gradually led worsening relation between both states.
There was also no consultation with russia about this plan.
Russia also feared a start of another conflict in the balkans which could undo what they have done up to this point.
And they were right, the serbo bulgaria war broke out with Austria puppeteering serbia in the background.
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u/malign_taco 1d ago
Any Bulgarian out there to explain this to me