Bulgarian PM Radev: ‘Bulgaria will financially support Ukraine within our capabilities’
Bulgaria will financially support Ukraine within our capabilities without affecting social spending and taking into account the large deficit that previous administrations bequeathed to us, Prime Minister Roumen Radev told reporters at the Nato Summit in Ankara on July 8.
“A number of Bulgarian governments have systematically and comprehensively supported Ukraine with financial, medical, humanitarian and military support,” Radev said.
“But all Bulgarian politicians who promised the most financial support for Ukraine have done very little for the development of our economy and for providing funds in our budget,” he said.
Radev commented on the risks of escalating tensions in conflict-affected regions and called for diplomatic efforts to achieve sustainable peace.
He said that allies should remain united and aware of their political responsibility.
The military actions in Ukraine and the Middle East clearly show European countries that ensuring the security of their citizens is an irrevocable responsibility and requires systematic action, Radev said.
He said that the forum is taking place at a key moment of the deepening transformation of the Alliance, which reflects both the need and the ambition of the European member states to take on greater responsibility and increase their contribution to the common defence capabilities.
Radev said that by strengthening its national defence capacity, Bulgaria is becoming an important factor of stability in the Black Sea region.
“And in this regard, our country is focusing its efforts on building its own defence capabilities and on developing our defense industry and science,” he said.
Radev said that for Bulgaria, achieving Nato’s goal of five per cent of gross domestic product for defence means developing not only classical defence capabilities, but also investments in infrastructure, connectivity, digital resilience and cybersecurity.
He emphasised the importance of the Defence Industries Forum being held in Ankara, highlighting the opportunity to overcome fragmentation in the European defence industry.
(Photo: government.bg)
