Bulgaria reiterates support to Ukraine amid tension between US, Kyiv’s European allies

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Bulgaria on Tuesday reiterated its support for Ukraine amid tension between the US and Kyiv’s European allies.

“We have united around the understanding that a just and lasting peace can be achieved as peace through security for Ukraine and for the EU,” said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov in a press statement following a meeting of the country’s security council, according to the state-run BTA news agency.

However, he underlined that “Bulgaria cannot afford to be put in a situation, either actively or passively, to choose its support and attitude to the war in the different trends expressed by the EU and the US. We view them as allies in NATO and as a joint guarantor for the protection of our national security.”

On Tuesday, ahead of this week's European Council meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an €800 billion ($841 billion) plan to "rearm" Europe, an ambitious strategy to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities.

The announcement came following reports that Trump, who has demanded that NATO members increase defense spending to up to 5% of their GDP, paused military aid to Ukraine after his Oval Office exchange with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump wants a quick deal to end Ukraine's three-year war, but Zelenskyy, backed by Europe, has demanded security guarantees.