Bulgaria will stop delivering weapons to Ukraine, Ministerpräsident Rumen Radew announced at a press conference covered by T-Online.
The Black Sea nation also will not participate in the new round of European financial aid, Radew said. He cited the country’s EU deficit procedure and reserve problems as the reasons for the refusal.
Other EU states will not be blocked from providing financial aid, according to Radew. Bulgarian weapons manufacturers exported heavily in 2022 and 2023, but volumes have since dropped as drone demands shifted the conflict, T-Online reported.
Bulgaria Seeks Conditional Aid and Limits Weapons Supplies
Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen has repeatedly urged Sofia to push its deficit below three percent. Radew said that Bulgaria is willing to discuss mechanisms ensuring funds go exclusively to humanitarian purposes, electricity, and medical help rather than arms purchases.
Should Bulgaria act as a guarantor, Radew demands that funds directly benefit the Bulgarian minority in several Ukrainian regions. Weapons and ammunition from army stocks will no longer be supplied.
Diplomatic Tensions in Central Europe
Slovak Robert Fico attacked Merz during a press conference in Bratislava alongside Andrej Babiš.
“Nein, wir werden uns nicht einkacken,” sagte Robert Fico, Ministerpräsident, according to the F.A.Z.
Babiš raised his eyebrows at Fico’s phrasing and said that he was unsure if the reporter understood the expression. Babiš maintained that his country would not guarantee loans, though his tone differed from Fico’s rhetoric.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar visited Berlin on Tuesday and stood alongside Merz, stating he viewed Merz’s approach as incorrect while stopping short of calling it extortion.
Bulgarian Leadership Shift
Radew previously stated in June that Bulgaria reached the limit of its military aid to Kyiv. The former head of state took office as head of government in the spring.
Questions on European Funding and Policy
Why did Bulgaria stop supplying weapons to Ukraine?
Ministerpräsident Rumen Radew cited ongoing issues with national reserves and an active EU deficit procedure during a press conference reported by T-Online.
What are Slovakia and the Czech Republic demanding regarding EU loans?
Slovak Robert Fico and Andrej Babiš rejected loan guarantees and criticized European financial pressure, according to reporting by the F.A.Z.
What did US envoys discuss in Moscow?
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to review outcomes from the Abu Dhabi talks, WELT reported.