The new pro-Western government in Bulgaria has promised further support to Ukraine in its battle to force Russian invaders out of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov on Thursday in Sofia, where they discussed increased cooperation in Ukraine’s defence as well as the rehabilitation of Ukrainian soldiers and the training of Ukrainian medics in Bulgaria.
“Bulgaria, thank you for the support of our people,” Zelensky told a news conference.
The Ukrainian leader made his first official visit to the country on Thursday, continuing his diplomatic tour to shore up support for his country’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
Bulgaria’s liberal-conservative government, which has only been in office in the EU and NATO country for a month, already approved a new military aid package for Ukraine in June. Bulgaria has also taken in tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees since the war began.
Less than a week before the NATO summit in Vilnius, Zelensky and Denkov signed a declaration on Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine’s integration into the alliance after the end of the war.
On the same day, the Bulgarian parliament approved a declaration in support of Ukraine’s NATO membership after the end of the war by a majority of 157 votes.
A total of 57 representatives of the pro-Russian Socialists and the nationalist and pro-Russian party Vasrashdane (Rebirth) voted against the measure.
The square in front of the seat of government and the presidential office in Sofia was closed to traffic for safety reasons.
Zelensky did not meet Bulgarian President Rumen Radev while in Sofia.
Radev, a former fighter jet pilot and previous head of Bulgaria’s air force, is considered pro-Russian.
Most recently, Radev rejected Bulgaria’s participation in a joint European Union initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine.
Zelensky was invited to Bulgaria, a member of the European Union and NATO alliance, by the country’s new pro-Western government.
The coalition government, formed by rival political blocs, took office on June 6 after several years of gridlock and repeated parliamentary elections in the country.
The new government has proposed to supply more aid to Ukraine than the previous transitional government.
Zelensky has already left Sofia, as he is set to meet Czech leaders in Prague on Friday in a further bid for weapons and NATO support.
