site.btaBulgaria Remains Consistent in Support for Ukraine's Right to Self-Defence Against Russian Aggression, PM Rosen Zhelyzakov Says

Bulgaria has been consistent in its support for Ukraine in its legitimate right of self-defence against Russian aggression and in supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in a written reply to the MPs from the parliamentary group of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) Ivaylo Mirchev and Martin Dimitrov.

The two MPs asked the PM when Bulgaria will sign a bilateral agreement on security cooperation with Ukraine. Zhelyazkov stated that as per its decision of November 28, 2024, the Council of Ministers approved a draft bilateral agreement on security cooperation between Bulgaria and Ukraine, agreed with the Ukrainian side on the basis of an initial draft approved as a basis for negotiations by a decision of the Council of Ministers on October 4, 2024.

"Our country is committed to continue its comprehensive support to Ukraine - political, military, humanitarian, diplomatic, reconstruction support, in line with the collective decisions of the EU and NATO", Zhelyazkov noted in his response and pointed out that the commitments provided for in the agreement are similar to those included in the bilateral agreements concluded between the 28 NATO member states and Ukraine.

"The initiative for signing such agreements was given by the G7 countries during the NATO Summit in Vilnius in 2023, with the aim that the agreements would serve as coordination in the efforts to support Ukraine at the bilateral and multilateral level", Zhelyazkov said, adding that at the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024, the signatories of bilateral security cooperation agreements with Ukraine approved the so-called Compact for Ukraine.

Bulgaria's position is based on consistent parliamentary support, expressed in the seven decisions of the 47th, 48th and 49th National Assemblies (May 2022 - September 2023), which confirmed Bulgaria's comprehensive support for Ukraine, including its European and Euro-Atlantic integration. "With its actions in support of Ukraine, Bulgaria occupies a worthy place in the joint efforts of the international community, NATO and the EU. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who defend not only their territory but also our shared values, and we are convinced that a strong, independent and democratic Ukraine is vital for the security and stability of Europe, Prime Minister Zhelyazkov said in his reply to the MPs.

He noted that bilateral agreements of this kind should also address aspects important for bilateral relations, such as the role of the large Bulgarian community in Ukraine, which is a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two peoples, a clear commitment by the Ukrainian side to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Bulgarian community in Ukraine, including the ethno-cultural rights of its representatives, etc. Given the above and the comprehensive nature of the agreement, Rosen Zhelyazkov pointed out that the government is analyzing all the aspects that should be present in such a document in order to have guarantees that the texts in it are up-to-date and meet the needs of both Ukraine and Bulgaria.

"On all issues concerning foreign and domestic policy the government will take the necessary steps after coordination with the partners in the government", Zhelyazkov noted.

In December, the then-caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said that he would not sign a security cooperation agreement with Ukraine without the support of the National Assembly and said it was best for the document to be approved by a regular government.