Bulgaria Halts Arms Supplies to Ukraine and Ends Participation in New EU Funding, Prime Minister Says

In brief

• Bulgaria's prime minister Rumen Radev said his country will stop supplying weapons and ammunition from army stocks to Ukraine.
• He cited an excessive budget deficit procedure and strained reserves as reasons Bulgaria cannot fund a new EU aid round.
• Radev said Bulgaria will not block other EU states from giving Ukraine financial aid, but wants funds limited to humanitarian needs.

Budget constraints behind the decision

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told reporters on Friday, November 13, at a summit in Dublin that his country has no funds to support Ukraine financially and will stop supplying weapons and ammunition from its army's depots. (Болгария больше не будет предоставлять Украине оружие и финансовую помощь — премьер – NV) (Болгарія не постачатиме Україні зброю через власний дефіцит, – премʼєр Радев – Espreso) (Одна з країн Європи припиняє постачати зброю Україні та озвучила нову позицію – TSN)

Asked about a new loan for Ukraine and whether Bulgaria could act as a guarantor, Radev said Sofia is currently subject to an excessive deficit procedure within the EU and faces difficulties building its own reserves. He pointed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who he said has repeatedly asked Bulgaria to bring its deficit below the 3% threshold. (Прэм'ер: Балгарыя больш не будзе пастаўляць зброю Украіне – Nasza Niwa)

Not blocking other EU states

Radev stressed that Bulgaria will not obstruct other EU members that decide independently to give Ukraine financial aid. (Болгарія припинила постачати Україні зброю: прем'єр пояснив причину – UNIAN) He added that Sofia is willing to discuss mechanisms that would ensure any funds go exclusively to humanitarian needs, electricity supply and medical care, rather than weapons. If Bulgaria takes part as a guarantor, he insisted that part of the money should go to the Bulgarian community in Ukraine.

Shift in arms exports

Radev said Bulgarian defence companies exported weapons and ammunition in large volumes in 2022 and 2023, but deliveries later declined gradually. He linked the change to evolving battlefield needs: ammunition was in highest demand at the start of the war, while the priority has since shifted toward drones.

Position on peace

Radev said Bulgaria supports all efforts toward peace, but he personally rejects the approach of peace from a position of strength, which he argued leads to more casualties, destruction and escalation. He also noted that Ukraine is home to the largest historical Bulgarian community of any EU country, and said he is concerned that Bulgarians continue to die in the war.

Radev had earlier said Bulgaria would not join the proposed 70 billion euro financing package for Ukraine that President Volodymyr Zelensky requested.