Bulgaria's new government intends to join the EU's scheme to supply weapons to Ukraine

So far, Bulgaria has remained one of the two EU countries (along with neutral Ireland) that have not joined the European Defense Agency (EDA). Through the EDA, EU countries conduct joint purchases of ammunition from Ukraine.

This was due to both internal political instability (Bulgaria has held five elections in the last two years) and a fairly large number of politicians sympathetic to russia.

But now the situation is set to change, Todor Tagarev, who took office last week along with other colleagues in the newly formed government, told Politico.

"We are absolutely clear that we want to join this coalition. I think we will be able to partially meet Ukraine's ammunition needs," he said.

According to Tagarev, a political decision to join the EDA has not yet been made, "but we will certainly make this effort and I believe we will find a way."

In December 2022, the then government approved an aid package for Ukraine, but it was mainly small arms, of which Bulgaria is a major producer.

The supply was opposed, in particular, by the Socialist Party (the successor to the Communist Party), which was part of the ruling coalition until its collapse in August. Nevertheless, Bulgaria was one of the main suppliers of ammunition and diesel fuel to Ukraine at the very beginning of the war. They were delivered, however, through third countries such as Poland, Romania, and Hungary.

Background. As reported, due to putin's actions, almost two-thirds of Europeans now consider russia an enemy. At the same time, Bulgaria is the most "fond" of russia, and Denmark the least.