The leaders of the four formations from the ruling coalition have decided to hold a meeting, even though Hristo Ivanov, co-chair of one of the coalition parties – Democratic Bulgaria – declared he was revoking the invitation for such a meeting. His motive for revoking the invitation was that a draft on sending military aid to Ukraine would be submitted to be voted in plenary on the National Assembly’s first working day after the Easter vacation, which makes convening a coalition council pointless.

• Democratic Bulgaria will propose to Bulgarian Parliament to vote on military-technical aid to Ukraine

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov on his part declared, on Facebook, he would continue his efforts towards attaining a unified position on the matter, and urged Bulgarians to donate money in support of Ukraine.

• Bulgarian Prime Minister announces donation campaign in aid of Ukraine

Meanwhile, the efforts for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Ukraine continue. UN Secretary General António Guterres is paying a working visit to Moscow where he is to hold talks with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and with President Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with Russian state TV, Sergey Lavrov warned the West not to underestimate the elevated risks of nuclear conflict over Ukraine. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter: “Russia loses last hope to scare the world off supporting Ukraine. Thus the talk of a ‘real’ danger of WWIII. This only means Moscow senses defeat in Ukraine. Therefore, the world must double down on supporting Ukraine so that we prevail and safeguard European and global security.