Bulgarian President Blocks Shipment of Armored Vehicles to Ukraine
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev Vetoes Agreement to Supply Armored Vehicles to Ukraine
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has chosen to veto the agreement for Bulgaria to supply armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, sending the agreement back to the Bulgarian Parliament. The agreement had been previously signed between the Bulgarian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, and had been approved by the Bulgarian Parliament.
In a statement released by the Presidency, Radev emphasized that the members of the parliament did not have sufficient information about the necessity of the equipment to be provided to Ukraine within the scope of the donation for Bulgaria. He stated that the agreement had been approved without considering the needs of the border police, fire brigade, and other state units, and highlighted that the armored vehicles to be donated could be used on the Bulgarian border and in disaster situations.
Radev expressed concerns about the security, health, and lives of Bulgarian citizens, emphasizing that these should be the highest priority. He also pointed out the need to strengthen, rather than reduce, the inventory of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, especially in the face of frequent floods.
The agreement for Bulgaria to supply armored vehicles to Ukraine was initially signed in Sofia on 8 August and in Kiev on 13 November. The Bulgarian Parliament had approved the agreement on November 22, with 131 yes votes, 49 no votes, and 1 missing vote.
It was reported that the Bulgarian Army currently has 20 BTR-60 type armored personnel carriers in its inventory, which are planned to be delivered to Ukraine under the agreement. The BTR-60 is a vehicle dating back to the Soviet period and is familiar to Ukrainian soldiers.
The decision to veto the agreement has sparked debate and discussions both domestically and internationally. It remains to be seen whether the Bulgarian Parliament will make any amendments to the agreement in response to the President’s concerns.
Source: SavunmaSanayiST.com, AA
