site.btaPresident Radev Opposes Continuous Aid to Ukraine

President Rumen Radev, who attended the Bank of the Year Award ceremony here on Thursday, told reporters at the event that the Government should not turn Bulgaria into a "perpetual donor for the war in Ukraine until ultimate victory is achieved".

Radev referenced a parliamentary sitting earlier on Thursday, which discussed the national framework positions for the NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

He said: "The Bulgarian Government owes an explanation not only to the MPs but also to all Bulgarian citizens about the commitments it is making on their behalf regarding the war in Ukraine." He added that he disapproves of "the significant financial aid commitment for arming Ukraine" and that he does not support providing weapons from the Bulgarian armed forces' arsenal before receiving the appropriate replacements.

Radev expressed doubts about the clarity of the ultimate victory in the war, questioning how it will be achieved, and the associated costs in time, money, resources, and risk. He raised concerns about the impact on Ukraine, including the state of its armed forces, servicepersons, infrastructure, and economy. He said: "This is why I have never supported inadequate positions with no backbone, and why I refused to defend this one."

Radev referred to his refusal of the Council of Ministers' proposal that he leads the Bulgarian delegation at the Washington Summit of heads of state and heads of government.