Bulgaria reaffirms no military deployment to Ukraine

Bulgaria's Parliament has passed a declaration reaffirming that Bulgarian military forces will not be deployed in combat operations in Ukraine, except as required by the country’s obligations within NATO, the EU, the UN, and the OSCE.

The declaration also emphasizes Bulgaria's commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict and seeking peaceful negotiations, Caliber.Az reports citing Bulgarian media.

During the parliamentary debate, members of the pro-Russian party "Revival" expressed concerns about the declaration’s wording. Angel Georgiev, one of the party's representatives, argued that the document left an opening for the potential deployment of Bulgarian military personnel to Ukraine, which he deemed a betrayal of Bulgarian society.

"The declaration does not fully guarantee that Bulgarian troops won’t be sent to Ukraine," Georgiev said, adding that such a possibility would undermine the nation’s interests.

In response, Stanislav Balabanov of the "There is Such a People" party reassured Parliament that the declaration had broad support across the political spectrum. He emphasized that without a formal request from the Council of Ministers, the declaration served as an institutional guarantee, ensuring that Bulgaria would not engage in military actions in Ukraine.

While the declaration reaffirms Bulgaria’s commitment to non-participation in combat operations in Ukraine, it does not explicitly condemn Russia’s actions in the conflict. Efforts by the "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" party to include language denouncing Russia’s ongoing invasion and alleged war crimes were rejected.

Likewise, "Revival" proposed removing references to Bulgaria’s NATO and EU commitments, but this was not accepted either. The final version of the declaration avoids a direct condemnation of Russia's aggression, which has led some to speculate that it may leave room for potential peacekeeping missions once the conflict comes to an end.

GERB leader Boyko Borissov reiterated that there had been no external request for Bulgarian military involvement in Ukraine. He also accused misinformation campaigns of stoking unnecessary fear among the public. He emphasized GERB’s consistent support for Ukraine while reiterating that Bulgaria’s role should be centered on diplomatic efforts. Borisov also expressed concerns over Europe's long-term stability, warning of potential security and migration challenges should the war continue unresolved.

By Vafa Guliyeva