Bulgaria withdraws its military support for Ukraine and makes any financial aid conditional on the funds being used for civilian purposes

Bulgaria will no longer provide weapons and ammunition from the army’s stocks to Ukraine and does not have the financial resources to participate in new European support mechanisms for Kyiv, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Friday, November 13, at the informal European Union summit in Dublin.

The decision comes amid the budget deficit and the European excessive deficit procedure. Sofia will not oppose financial assistance provided by the other member states, but it does not wish to contribute to financing arms purchases.

Bulgaria is prepared to support potential contributions for humanitarian needs, energy infrastructure, and medical assistance. In the event of participating as a guarantor of a European loan, Sofia will request that part of the funds be allocated to the Bulgarian community in Ukraine, concentrated especially in the Odesa region.

Radev rejected the concept of “peace through strength” and argued that military support prolongs the conflict and amplifies the losses.

On October 21, the Bulgarian government abandoned the financing of lethal weapons for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility. In June, the authorities had announced the cessation of direct deliveries, and in July Bulgaria withdrew from the “Coalition of the Willing.”