site.btaDefence Minister Zapryanov: Next Aid Package for Ukraine Is In Final Stage of Preparation

Bulgaria’s caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said here on Monday that "the next aid package for Ukraine is in its final stage of preparation and could be submitted to the Council of Ministers today". He was speaking at a conference on NATO’s 75th anniversary organized by the Atlantic Club.

"Bulgaria endorses the whole package of measures aimed at enabling Ukraine to defend itself from Russian aggression, to achieve full interoperability of the Armed Forces, and to move closer to membership in the Alliance,” Zapryanov said.

The Minister said that Bulgaria supported the decisions regarding the strengthening of the Alliance's deterrence and defence potential at the NATO summit in Washington in early July. He added that the Alliance's defence plans are expected to be more demanding and will require an increase in the defence budget of up to 2.5%.

"NATO is united. It has capabilities and military superiority to any potential adversary," Zapryanov added.