Bulgarian Socialists Threaten PM Petkov Over Support for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) and Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov (L) shake hands as they attend a meeting in Kyiv, April 28, 2022. Photo: EPA-EFE/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

Her statement comes a day after Prime Minister and "We Continue the Change" co-leader Kiril Petkov met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv and agreed that Bulgaria will help repair Ukraine's heavy military equipment and position the coastal city of Varna as a hub for Ukraine's grain production. 

"I want to return to Ukraine to celebrate Ukraine's victory and its prompt entry into the European family", Petkov said in Kyiv on Thursday, changing his rhetoric from trying to find a consensus within the government on the Ukraine war to openly supporting Ukraine, even if that risks the coalition's stability.

Bulgaria's response to the war has been more muted than in most countries in the EU: two of the coalition parties, "We Continue the Change" and Democratic Bulgaria, support sending military aid, and "There's Such a People", while initially neutral, has lately have also endorsed the idea.

However, the Bulgarian Socialist Party is firmly against involvement in the war. So far, Bulgaria has only sent Ukraine humanitarian aid, helmets and bulletproof vests. Sending military aid is expected to be voted on in the parliament next week. 

Meanwhile, there's been growing reports of Bulgaria contributing to the Ukrainian army from the start, via sales of weapons through third countries, and under the watch of the politician who most opposes military aid - Ninova. She has denied the claims. 

The Socialists are also against Bulgaria cutting ties with Russian energy giant Gazprom because of Russia's demand that all payments now be made in rubles,...