SOFIA, July 16 (BV) – Bulgaria’s support for a joint declaration adopted at the Ukraine–Southeast Europe summit in Kyiv has sparked a political row, with opposition parties accusing the government of contradicting its stated position on military support for Ukraine.
The controversy follows Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s recent statement in Paris that Bulgaria would not join the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” while Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova later backed the Kyiv declaration.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry rejected claims of a policy shift, saying the declaration was a political document without legally binding force and did not commit Sofia to any new military or financial obligations.
The ministry reiterated that Bulgaria remains unable to provide additional military or financial assistance to Ukraine beyond its existing commitments through the European Union and NATO.
Opposition parties questioned the government’s foreign policy consistency.
Representatives of GERB-SDS, Democratic Bulgaria, Continue the Change and Revival accused the government of sending contradictory messages to international partners, arguing that Sofia says one thing domestically while endorsing different positions abroad.
The governing Progressive Bulgaria coalition dismissed the criticism, insisting Bulgaria had maintained an independent foreign policy by supporting European consensus without abandoning its national position.
Officials stressed that the reference in the declaration to the “Coalition of the Willing” concerns security arrangements that would only be considered after a future peace agreement in Ukraine.
The government also said Bulgaria’s current priority is expanding bilateral cooperation with Ukraine in the energy and economic sectors, following recent discussions between Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.