Bulgaria Refuses to Fund New Lethal Weapons for Ukraine Through EU Fund

Bulgaria has refused to fund the purchase of new lethal weapons for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility (EPF).

According to Bulgarian news agency Novinite.com, the country’s government approved a position of “constructive abstention” in the vote on allocating funds.

Under the decision, Bulgaria will not participate in financing weapons procurement through this EU mechanism.

The country’s contribution to the European Peace Facility this year amounts to just over €9 million. In February, the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov had already allocated more than €6 million in aid to Ukraine through the fund.

The Bulgarian government said it would continue to finance only non-lethal assistance. It will also insist that its funds be directed primarily to regions of Ukraine with ethnic Bulgarian populations.

The authorities justified the decision by citing their desire to end hostilities near Bulgaria’s borders as soon as possible and open diplomatic channels for negotiations.

This is the second restriction on military assistance since the government changed its policy.

Earlier, Bulgaria’s new government said it intended to discontinue further military aid packages.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov called for a “just peace,” with the terms to be determined by both sides in the conflict.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev also announced that the country would no longer participate in the “Coalition of the Willing,” citing its support for a diplomatic settlement.

He criticized previous governments for their financial commitments to supporting Ukraine, saying they had left the country with a substantial budget deficit.

At the same time, Bulgaria is ready to repair Ukrainian military equipment as part of military-technical support.