site.btaGovernment Halts Arms Supplies from Bulgarian Army Depots to Ukraine, Incurring Criticism from Opposition

The Bulgarian Government is discontinuing the provision of weapons from the Bulgarian armed forces depots to Ukraine, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the start of a regular cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"We have already given enough. This country continues to suffer socio-economic detriment from this gory war. We are convinced that a peaceful solution cannot be achieved by military means, so we once again call for a comprehensive, realistic approach and for efforts to seek a diplomatic solution," Radev said.

The PM argued that strengthening the rule of law, democratic institutions and the defence capabilities of the Bulgarian armed forces, rather than pouring more money into the war, was the real investment in the country's European future. He added that the Government's main priority was the security and well-being of Bulgarian citizens.

Defence Minister: "There Is Nothing More We Can Give"

Later on Wednesday, on his way into a meeting of the parliamentary Defence Committee on the subject, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov dismissed as "ultimately groundless" what he called "the tribulations" that the Bulgarian armed forces modernization projects will not be implemented due to the halt of additional military aid to Ukraine. He explained that at this point Bulgaria does not have a disposable surplus that can be supplied. He does see any cause for concern on this count. 

He specified that, as Minister of Defence, he is responsible for the Bulgarian armed forces' depots and not for arms production and sales. "We cannot possibly make Bulgarian military resources available for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces," he said. 

Asked how he will ensure that such resources will not reach Ukraine via third countries, Stoyanov said that his Ministry ensures that this will not happen "via third, fifth and tenth countries" but pointed out that the Ministry is not concerned with private commercial companies and can only control its own commercial companies and what is available in the depots.

"Back during its election campaign, Progressive Bulgaria categorically stated that Bulgaria remains a reliable NATO and EU member "but this does not imply that we should not have an opinion of our own on some of the policies".

Answering MPs' questions at the Defence Committee meeting, Stoyanov said that Ukraine had not addressed any request for armaments to his Ministry since May 8, 2026. He pointed out that he had planned to inform Parliament in a report about the amount of aid provided so far. According to him, the supplies available in storage are already below the sanitary minimum. "There is nothing more we can give," he added.

Stoyanov said that partner countries had not been notified about the termination of aid to Ukraine, as there was no such obligation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova clarified to reporters that any future support for Ukraine, whether military-technical or humanitarian, would require a Council of Ministers decision and debate at the National Assembly.

Parliamentary Parties React

Georg Georgiev MP of GERB: "We are currently jeopardizing not only Bulgaria's strategic posture but also the benefits to our economy. The Foreign Minister's statement differs from the ones made by the Defence Minister and the Prime Minister. This either points to disagreements within the Cabinet or proves us right to argue that one thing is being told to partners abroad and another is being said for domestic political consumption. Everything that has taken place with regard to the modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces, including the inflow of funds amounting to hundreds of billions, has been the result of decisions made in recent years. While heading one of the caretaker cabinets, incumbent Deputy Prime Minister Galab Donev personally signed a contract for a exchange of ammunition worth 300 million, which stemmed from the fact that Bulgaria had provided unserviceable ammunition. The argument being adduced now, that Bulgaria acted against its own interests, is simply not true. The political choice we are making will inevitably affect our defence industry. The sector supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions to the Bulgarian economy. The way we are positioned on NATO's Eastern Flank and within the broader European security architecture is being put at risk. Bulgaria is sending mixed signals. During his recent talks in Berlin, Paris and Brussels, the Prime Minister did not mention his Government's decision to halt aid for Ukraine. This is a significant breach of solidarity. Bulgaria will not suddenly find itself in a safer place on the map of Europe, nor will it be more than 400 km away from the front line. Bulgaria will continue to need the modernization of its armed forces. That modernization is contingent on the assistance we have provided.

Ivaylo Mirchev MP of Democratic Bulgaria: Bulgaria's current decisions are more likely to cater for Vladimir Putin's wishes. The reality is that as little as 2% of the ammunition Bulgaria sends to Ukraine comes from Bulgarian armed forces' depots. The rest comes from Bulgarian industry, from the ordnance factories. Europe is already moving at two speeds, and Bulgaria should be in the first. Bulgaria should be where the decisions are made, where the predictable partners are, and where the country will share in Europe's future security architecture. I do not understand why Progressive Bulgaria is reacting in such an irresponsible way. The European Peace Facility (EPF) pays for what comes from Bulgarian armed forces depots, while the Ukrainian side pays for what is manufactured 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 any weapons to Ukraine.

Radoslav Ribarski MP of Continue the Change: Bulgaria has benefited significantly from ammunition exports over the past two to three years. The decision we are set to adopt today on the acquisition of 3D radars is a direct result of this export activity and the renewal of ammunition stocks that Bulgaria is selling, not donating. Thanks to these revenues, today we will be able to order 3D radars that are vital for the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Bulgaria continues to sell ammunition to countries that wish to provide it to Ukraine. Such exports have never ceased. What we are seeing is the executive branch moving at two different speeds. This is not just a matter of support. It is also a mechanism through which Bulgaria has, in recent years, been able to modernize both its ammunition stockpiles and its technical equipment.

Bogdan Bogdanov MP of Continue the Change: Bulgaria has consistently maintained its position on the war in Ukraine - namely that it should support the victim rather than the aggressor. The Bulgarian Parliament has passed a number of resolutions clearly outlining its support for Ukraine, primarily in coordination with Bulgaria's European partners. Excluding Bulgaria's defence industry from international markets would directly affect nearly 70,000 people employed in the sector. Our companies are an active part of international supply chains, so any such decision would have a negative impact on both the industry itself and the country's economy.

Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov: Vazrazhdane will enter two motions: one to ban arms sales to Ukraine and another to bar re-exports in deals with third countries. At one point, a deputy prime minister [Korneliya Ninova in January 2023] said she would not send even a single cartridge to Ukraine. It later emerged that we were the second-largest donor of weapons to Ukraine. Nominally, they were not sent directly to Ukraine itself, but huge [truck] convoys and planes were dispatched, landing at airports in Rzeszow, a small town near Poland's border with Ukraine, and Sighetu-Marmatiei, a small town in northern Romania. Vazrazhdane will table a draft resolution obliging the government to impose a ban on re-exports. For example, if we export to Poland, then we export to Poland, and Poland is the only country where those weapons can be used.