site.btaUS Secretary of Defence Visit: Bulgaria Confirms It Will Send No Weapons to Ukraine

After US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin talked with Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in Sofia on Saturday, it transpired that the sides did not consider the possibility of Bulgaria sending any weapons or ammunition to Ukraine. They discussed the creation of a Bulgarian-led NATO battlegroup, which the US has agreed to reinforce by committing a company.

"This is a strong sign to all our Allies in NATO," Petkov commented. "I hope that other countries, too, will add components to the Bulgarian battlegroup." He said the company to be committed by the US is under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe but Bulgaria will propose a Bulgarian commander.

"We are Allies and we are bolstering our defence together," the Prime Minister said.

He confirmed that at this stage Bulgaria is providing only humanitarian aid to Ukraine and helping Ukrainian refugees. "Bulgaria will continue to do everything to support Ukraine in this war, but since we are so close to the conflict zone, military aid to Ukraine is out of the question," Petkov said.