A day after Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria would not join the “Coalition of the Willing” supporting Ukraine, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova signed a declaration in Kyiv confirming the country’s commitment to the initiative and expressing readiness to increase its involvement in the coalition’s activities.
Petrova signed the document during the Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit, where she joined European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in paying tribute to fallen Ukrainian soldiers. The declaration commits the participating countries to continue political, military, financial, and security support for Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia, and contribute to the reconstruction of the country after the war.
A key section of the declaration recognizes the role of the Coalition of the Willing as an effective mechanism for supporting Ukraine and states that the signatories are prepared to strengthen their participation in its work.
The move came shortly after Radev said Bulgaria should not take part in the coalition, arguing that the country should prioritize diplomacy over further military assistance. “Bulgaria does not participate in a coalition that insists on continued financial and military assistance to Ukraine,” the prime minister said.
