Bulgaria rejects new funding for Ukraine and weapons supply from military stockpiles

Refusal to participate in the new round of aid

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev officially stated that his country will not participate in the new round of European funding for Ukraine. In addition, he confirmed that Sofia is ceasing the supply of weapons and ammunition from military stockpiles.

Reasons: budget deficit and reserves

The government's main argument was the country's financial situation. According to the Prime Minister, the excessive deficit procedure is currently being applied to Bulgaria, and the country is facing difficulties in maintaining its reserves. Therefore, under current conditions, Sofia has no capacity to allocate additional funds for financial assistance.

«Що стосується фінансової допомоги, ми самі перебуваємо в процедурі надмірного дефіциту, і пані Урсула фон дер Ляєн неодноразово просила нас звести дефіцит нижче ліміту в 3%» (Regarding financial assistance, we ourselves are in the excessive deficit procedure, and Mrs Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly asked us to bring the deficit below the 3% limit), Radev emphasised.

Readiness for dialogue and guarantees

At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that Bulgaria will not obstruct other EU member states in making their own decisions regarding the provision of financial support. Sofia is ready to discuss mechanisms that would guarantee the use of funds exclusively for humanitarian needs, energy supply, and medical assistance, rather than for the purchase of weapons.

If Bulgaria acts as a guarantor, Radev insists on the implementation of mechanisms that would allow funds to be directed directly to the Bulgarian community concentrated in several regions of Ukraine.

Change in the nature of the war affected weapons exports

Regarding the supply of weapons and ammunition, Radev explained that in 2022 and 2023, Bulgarian defence enterprises carried out exports in very large volumes, but the figures subsequently decreased gradually. The Prime Minister linked this to the change in the nature of the war: while there was an acute need for ammunition in the initial stage, demand has now shifted towards unmanned aerial vehicles.