site.btaBulgaria Takes Part in Ukraine Defence Contact Group Meeting

Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov attended the third meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, which discussed the situation in Ukraine and international support for the country, Stoyanov's ministry reported on Friday.

The Bulgarian delegation also included Chief of Defence Adm. Emil Eftimov and Deputy Defence Minister Teodora Genchovska. The meeting involved defence ministers of NATO and EU member and partner countries and experts from the two blocs. It was hosted by US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.

On the sidelines of the forum, Stoyanov had two bilateral meetings. He and Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder discussed military-technical cooperation between the two countries, the upgrading of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and other matters of mutual interest in the field of defence. They noted that the longstanding bilateral cooperation will continue at the level of armed forces commands.

Stoyanov and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak looked at modernization projects for the Bulgarian Armed Forces and the development of bilateral defence relations.

The US has provided Ukraine with USD 35 billion in military aid since the start of the war, Secretary Austin said, as quoted by DPA. He said Ukraine will be supported for as long as necessary.