Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Sofia at the invitation of the Bulgarian government. The country is considered a major arms supplier to Ukraine. It is also expected that the talks will focus on further support to the war country.
Selenskyj traveled from the Moldavian capital Chişinău, where the Ukrainian president was picked up by a Bulgarian government plane. The short visit is seen as a mark of appreciation for Bulgaria’s previous military support, as well as the change in foreign policy following the election of the new government. A few days ago, Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said in an interview that Bulgaria should be proud to help Ukraine.
Negotiating old Soviet companies?
The Bulgarian government has been supplying arms to Ukraine since the outbreak of war, albeit through third countries such as Poland. Direct military support would have further worsened the already tense domestic political situation in the country. President Rumen Radev, who is loyal to Moscow, spoke out against military aid to Kiev. However, with the election of the new government in early June, the position changed fundamentally. Bulgaria’s new defense minister has already announced more military aid to Ukraine. According to unconfirmed information, the two governments are already negotiating the delivery of old ammunition from Soviet stocks worth more than 150 million euros.
The new government has also already announced that it will support Ukraine’s NATO membership. “The most immediate and desired way to restore peace in Ukraine, the Black Sea region and Europe is the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine,” it said.
Opposition: provocation?
Part of the Bulgarian opposition does not agree with the visit of the Ukrainian president. “Zelenskyj comes to Bulgaria to provoke. His goal is not to talk to the Bulgarian president, but to the US Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov,” said the leader of the radical pro-Russian nationalists.
Source: Krone
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