Bulgarian Defense Minister Dragomir Zakov has said that the country will not provide weapons to Ukraine to fight the Russian invasion as it will focus on strengthening its underfunded army.
European Pravda reported this, citing Balkan Insight.
"We cannot give Ukraine what we do not have," Zakov said.
Instead, he named several fundamental areas where Bulgaria had to renew its military resources. These include the development of artillery capabilities, the purchase of 3D radars, the construction of air defence systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, coastal defence missile systems and others.
Zakov's comment followed a Monday petition signed by six former defence ministers calling for sending weapons to help the Ukrainian army.
"Bulgaria must become part of the pan-European and Euro-Atlantic response to the aggression against Ukraine as soon as possible," the statement said.
However, the Bulgarian Defense Minister stressed that the Bulgarian army was in dire need of reinforcements before the country could take such steps.
"We need a capable army that can protect us. We need to restore key military capabilities, which means huge expenses," the minister said.
On 19 March, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiril Petkov, stated that Bulgaria would not provide weapons to Ukraine but would focus on delivering humanitarian aid.
On 1 March, Petkov fired Defense Minister Stefan Yanev for his refusal to call Russia's invasion of Ukraine a war.