“Bulgaria has never discussed and does not intend to send Bulgarian troops to Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov in answer to a question in parliament.

“Months ago, in answer to a question by the media, I said that as long as I am prime minister we shall never discuss and there will never be a decision for sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine. This has not changed, it will not change, and any attempts to invent any such topics are not relevant as far as the current Bulgarian government is concerned,” Nikolai Denkov said. He denied sending troops to Moldova was being considered either, and added this can only take place after a decision by parliament. PM Denkov stated his support for continuing the policy of helping Ukraine. “Russia is an aggressor, it attacked Ukraine and we have a duty to protect and help a sovereign country which has been attacked by its neighbor, and anyone turning a blind eye to that is working against Bulgaria’s national interest. Those defending Russia in this conflict – think about it, you are working against the Bulgarian national interest, because Ukraine, as it turns out can be Moldova. Anyone can sit down and think who could come next,” the Bulgarian prime minister said.

Asked by the opposition what exactly was discussed at the conference in Paris, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, Minister of Defence Todor Tagarev said: “The meeting in Paris was a working meeting for exchanging opinion. It was not meant to make decisions, or for signing any documents whatsoever. We cannot uphold a position that is not an approved national position. We firmly and categorically adhere to the national positions.”