The Bulgarian government will refrain from further funding of lethal weapons for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility (EPF) and will finance only non-lethal assistance.
This is stated in a government press release, Novinite reports.
“Bulgaria will fund only non-lethal assistance for Ukraine; moreover, it will insist that Bulgarian funding be directed primarily to regions with ethnic Bulgarian populations,” the government said.
The decision was justified by Bulgaria’s strategic interest “in ending hostilities near its borders, as well as in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while at the same time opposing a prolonged military confrontation”.
“Focusing exclusively on non-military assistance sends a clear signal to the international community: Bulgaria supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but rejects the logic of endless military confrontation and is seeking ways to open diplomatic channels for negotiations,” the government noted.
Bulgaria’s contribution to the European Peace Facility this year amounts to more than €9 million. At the same time, no specific share of these funds was earmarked for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.
Earlier this year, on the basis of a decision by the previous government of Rosen Zhelyazkov adopted in February, Bulgaria had already provided Ukraine with assistance worth more than €6 million through this mechanism.
The European Peace Facility has been operating since 2021, and its total volume exceeds €17 billion. In September this year, the European Union approved the allocation of more than €6 billion to finance the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.
After transferring military equipment, Bulgaria received more than €3 million in reimbursement through this fund.