site.btaMinister Atanas Zapryanov: Bulgarian Parliament Will Have Final Say on Any EU Mission in Ukraine

Bulgarian Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov said that if such a peace keeping mission were to be initiated by the European Union (EU), it would require the necessary guarantees to be included in an agreement. However, the Bulgarian National Assembly would have the final say on the matter, he said in a televised interview on Sunday.

Zapryanov also commented on the declaration passed by the parliament, which bans the participation of Bulgarian armed forces in military action on Ukrainian territory. He explained that this declaration means that it is up to the Bulgarian parliament to decide in what missions the country's armed forces can participate. The minister stated that the declaration was adopted in response to speculation, ensuring that the deployment of Bulgarian soldiers cannot take place without a parliamentary decision.

Regarding questions sent by the United States to Bulgaria and other countries, Zapryanov described them as part of "political consultations." He noted that NATO member states were required to provide their opinions and assessments on the matter. He further explained that many countries had pointed out that the questions were broadly framed and lacked "clarity on the peace agreement," which is why it was not possible to discuss specific parameters.

Minister Zapryanov said that he does not believe the United States is abandoning its European allies. He highlighted that NATO has a well-established mechanism for political consultations and decision-making. He pointed out that Bulgaria is already in contact with the new American administration and that he has had meetings with U.S. representatives. According to Zapryanov, the United States values NATO and the internal dialogue within the alliance. He explained that the US is shifting attention to the Pacific region.

Asked whether Eastern Europe could be left without protection in the event of foreign troop withdrawals, the minister categorically stated that such a scenario is not being considered. He emphasized that these are hypothetical situations with different media purposes, and he trusts the real processes taking place within NATO.

Zapryanov also said that fair negotiations should take into account Ukraine's interests, the European Union's interests, and NATO's requirements for deterrence and defense.