Bulgaria's New Government Ends Arms Supplies to Ukraine

Bulgaria's new government has decided to halt weapons deliveries to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in the country's support for Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Defense Minister Atanas Stoyanov announced the policy change, which represents a departure from the previous government's military assistance to Ukraine. Bulgaria, a NATO and European Union member state, had previously provided military aid to Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022. Despite ending arms supplies, Stoyanov announced that Bulgaria plans to significantly increase its defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2030, well above NATO's current two percent target. This substantial military investment suggests Bulgaria remains committed to strengthening its own defense capabilities even as it steps back from directly arming Ukraine.