Bulgaria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova has explained Sofia’s withdrawal from the “Coalition of the Willing,” arguing that diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine have not yet been fully used. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, Petrova-Chamova sought to reassure Ukraine that Bulgaria’s departure from the coalition did not amount to an end to all forms of support.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We are currently at a critical crossroads. There are many ways to support Ukraine,” she told journalists. According to the foreign minister, Sofia intends to focus on diplomatic engagement and practical assistance, particularly energy security ahead of the coming winter. Bulgaria occupies a strategically important position along regional energy routes and could help facilitate supplies of natural gas and other resources to Ukraine, Petrova-Chamova noted. Radev rejects coalition’s military approach Her remarks came one day after Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev declared that his country had no place in the “Coalition of the Willing,” a UK- and French-led group coordinating long-term military support and possible post-ceasefire security arrangements for Ukraine. “I don’t believe Bulgaria’s place is in the Coalition of the Willing,” Radev told Bulgarian television while visiting Paris. The Bulgarian prime minister argued that continued military and financial assistance would prolong the war and called instead for greater diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.