site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria MP Mirchev Says Bulgaria Risks Serving Russian President Putin on Ending Ukraine Arms Aid

Bulgaria’s current decisions are more likely to serve Vladimir Putin’s wishes, Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev told journalists on the sidelines of Parliament on Wednesday. He was commenting on PM Radev's announcement that Bulgaria is ending arms supplies to Ukraine.

“The reality is that a very small part of the ammunition Bulgaria sends to Ukraine comes from Bulgarian Army depots, about 2%. The rest comes from Bulgarian industry, from the plants,” Mirchev explained.

Europe is already moving at two speeds and Bulgaria should be in the first, Mirchev added. He said Bulgaria should be where decisions are made, where the predictable partners are and where the country will take part in Europe’s future security architecture.

“I do not understand why Progressive Bulgaria is reacting in such an irresponsible way,” he added.

Mirchev said the European Peace Facility (EPF) pays for what comes from Bulgarian Army depots, while the Ukrainian side pays for what is made by Bulgarian industry. “In one case, Bulgaria has already received EUR 6.5 billion, and in the other, hundreds of millions. Bulgaria has not donated weapons to Ukraine,” he said.

Presenting the Ministry of Defence’s priorities on Tuesday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Bulgaria had no plans to provide additional weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova clarified earlier on Wednesday that any future support for Ukraine, whether military-technical or humanitarian, would require a Council of Ministers decision and debate in the National Assembly.

The position drew criticism from GERB, Continue the Change Floor Leader Nikolay Denkov, and from Mirchev himself. GERB said on Tuesday the issue concerned Bulgaria’s place in Europe, while Mirchev called the halt a strategic mistake for Bulgaria’s security. Denkov said he would ask Prime Minister Rumen Radev to clarify the government’s position, noting that Bulgaria had previously provided military support to Ukraine under institutional decisions.