site.btaParliamentary Defence Committee Approves Agreement on Gratuitous Provision of Armaments to Ukraine

The Parliamentary Defence Committee Tuesday voted 13-2, with one abstention, to approve a bill to ratify an Agreement between the defence ministries of Bulgaria and Ukraine regarding the gratuitous provision of armaments, materiel and ammunition.

Defence Committee Chair Hristo Gadjev MP of GERB-UDF told reporters he hoped this would be the first stage, followed by further Bulgarian support for Ukraine. Most of the military support Bulgaria will send is intended to protect Ukraine's population and facilities from air strikes. "This support by no means puts at risk the capacity of Bulgaria's Armed Forces to perform their constitutional duties or reduces their capabilities," Gadjev said.

The bill was approved on first reading in plenary by a vote of 130-36 on December 9. Also then, the majority voted in favour of a resolution on the provision of military and military-technical support to Ukraine.

After the committee meeting, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters Bulgaria's military support for Ukraine would by no means affect the capabilities of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. Asked if Bulgaria will be involved in the war after it provides armaments to Ukraine, he said there are risks to national security because the conflicts are very close to Bulgaria, but there is no real threat at present.

Stoyanov said that the next step after the ratification is for President Rumen Radev to have the bill gazetted. Until this is done, the equipment cannot be provided to Ukraine.

An Ally has suggested to provide equipment to Bulgaria but talks are still at an early stage, Stoyanov said, commenting on a possible provision of armaments to Bulgaria to replace those sent to Ukraine.

Regarding a platform for the fighter aviation to replace the MiG-29s currently used by the Air Force, whose service life is expected to end in 2023, Stoyanov said Sweden is expected to make an offer next week at the latest. France made an assessment visit to the Graf Ignatievo and Bezmer air bases last week. Israel made a visit on Monday. "Work is in progress, but we probably won't have enough time because we expect to have a regular government voted in on Wednesday," Stoyanov said.