Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov
Bulgaria did not inform its EU and NATO partners in advance about the decision to halt military assistance to Ukraine, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said during a parliamentary committee hearing. He stressed that the move was taken as a sovereign national decision.
Stoyanov reiterated the position previously associated with Prime Minister Rumen Radev, stating that Bulgaria has already exhausted what it can provide from its military reserves. According to him, even partial transfers of equipment reduce stockpiles below required levels.
“Even a part of the given armament brings down below the norms what we should have as reserves,” Stoyanov said, adding that since May there have been no formal requests for additional assistance from Ukraine.
Members of parliament from GERB criticized the Defense Ministry, arguing that the decision to end aid was taken unilaterally and may contradict a 2023 resolution of the National Assembly. Representatives of “Democratic Bulgaria” also questioned whether Bulgaria had coordinated its decision with EU and NATO allies, emphasizing the importance of predictability within the two organizations.
