Bulgaria has announced it will no longer send weapons and ammunition to Ukraine from its own military stockpiles, marking a significant policy shift that cements the country’s new government’s opposition to the EU's military support for Kyiv.
Defence Minister Clarifies Policy Change
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, who initially said Bulgaria would stop sending weapons to Ukraine altogether, before clarifying on Wednesday that only donations from existing stockpiles would end, while arms sales would continue.
“We are stopping the provision of weapons and ammunition from the warehouses of the Bulgarian army. The word is provision, not sale,” Mr Stoyanov said, speaking to Bulgarian broadcaster bTV. He added that the decision was driven by limited domestic reserves, insisting that Bulgaria could not afford to further deplete its own armed forces, particularly given that it is the poorest country in the EU.
“The lack of surplus in the country’s current military stocks precludes further donations,” he explained, while noting that Bulgarian defence companies would still be able to export weapons commercially.
New Government's Sceptical Stance
The move follows a landslide parliamentary election victory in April for Russia-aligned Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who has taken a far more sceptical stance on EU support for Ukraine. Bulgaria has previously delivered 13 military aid packages since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, but Mr Radev has described Ukraine’s position as “doomed”.
A former fighter pilot, the PM has repeatedly cited his military background to argue that Kyiv should pursue negotiations with Moscow and, in May, suggested that the EU itself should take the lead in peace talks.
“We have already made it clear that the war in Ukraine will not be resolved on the battlefield. We are witnessing a war of attrition, and no matter how much weaponry is amassed, the only result is the loss of human lives. It is time to sit down at the negotiating table,” he said.
Domestic and International Reactions
The latest decision drew criticism from opposition parties in Sofia, who warned it could damage Bulgaria’s standing within the alliance. GERB, the country’s largest opposition party, said on Tuesday that halting military aid raised questions about “the credibility of Bulgaria as an ally and about the protection of the Bulgarian national interest.”
Despite its shift on Ukraine, the government has avoided direct confrontation with Brussels, mindful of Bulgaria’s reliance on EU funding. Alongside the policy change, Mr Stoyanov also outlined plans to increase defence spending to the NATO-mandated 5% of GDP, a target previously floated by Mr Radev.
