Bulgaria opposes new Russia sanctions, Germany pledges weapons
Bulgaria announced it would veto new EU sanctions against Russia due to economic concerns. Germany, meanwhile, committed further military aid to Ukraine.
Bulgaria has declared its intention to block a new package of European Union sanctions against Russia, citing potential negative impacts on its national economy. Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that the proposed measures could significantly affect Bulgarian businesses, particularly mentioning the Russian oil company Lukoil, which operates the country's sole refinery.
This announcement came ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, where the bloc was expected to finalize the expanded sanctions list. The EU had recently added 34 individuals and 47 organizations linked to Russia's military industry, its oil tanker fleet, and entities involved in alleged political interference.
In parallel, Germany pledged an additional 400 million euros in military support for Ukraine. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that 200 million euros of this aid would be allocated to procuring specialized guided missiles for Patriot air defense systems. This commitment underscores Germany's continued support for Ukraine's defense efforts.
Further agreements were reached between Germany and Ukraine regarding joint defense projects. A pact was signed to explore the development of a new air defense system capable of countering ballistic missiles. Additionally, plans are in motion for the joint production of unmanned ground vehicles, like the Termit model, which will be manufactured in Germany before delivery to the Ukrainian army.