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Bulgaria Withdraws From Allied Coalition of the Willing Backing Ukraine
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Bulgaria has officially withdrawn from the so-called Coalition of the Willing supporting Ukraine’s defense, further distancing the Balkan nation from its European Union partners, Bloomberg reported on July 14.
The decision was announced by the country’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev, an outspoken critic of Western military assistance to Ukraine, who confirmed that Bulgaria did not send a representative to the coalition’s latest defense coordination meeting in Paris.
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Speaking to reporters, Radev justified the move by arguing that continuing to supply weapons and financial support only serves to prolong the warfare. He emphasized that Bulgaria would no longer participate in a coalition that insists on continuing financial and military aid to Ukraine, stating that the solution to the war is not in prolonging it by military means, but in a strong diplomatic mission that will finally put an end to the escalation.
The policy shift reflects a transition since Radev assumed office in May, during which he has consistently halted government-supplied military aid to Kyiv while leaving private, commercial arms sales unaffected.
This stance is highly consequential for regional logistics, as Bloomberg reported that Bulgaria remains one of the European Union’s largest manufacturers of Soviet-standard ammunition, a resource that proved critical to sustaining Ukrainian forces during the early stages of the full-scale invasion.
While the Prime Minister has repeatedly rejected accusations of aligning with Moscow, advocating instead for what he characterizes as “pragmatic” relations with the Kremlin, his regional policies have frequently drawn scrutiny from pro-Ukraine allies.
Alongside halting state-directed military shipments, Bloomberg noted that Radev has opposed the European punitive measures against Russia, including proposed EU sanctions against Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and Vagit Alekperov, the founder of Russian oil giant Lukoil PJSC.
Despite the Bulgarian prime minister’s Russia-leaning stance, the country’s government had previously decided not to block the European Union’s 21st sanctions package. While Sofia maintained formal objections to specific measures—particularly proposed restrictions on Russian Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil shareholder Vagit Alekperov—defense officials approved the country’s position without exercising its veto.
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