While Europe has equated Bulgaria with Hungary, the politically divided country has provided Ukraine with much-needed aid without loud statements, writes Politico.
In the spring of 2022, Ukraine was in desperate need of ammunition and fuel for Soviet-era weapons, and Bulgaria came to the rescue.
Bulgaria’s politics are divided, with many leading politicians backing the Kremlin’s position, so Sofia has tried since the start of the war to emphasize that it will not arm Ukraine. However, as it turns out, this has only been a cover. The German newspaper Die Welt has revealed that Bulgaria has been remarkably responsive.
When the war broke out, former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov tried his best to steer the country westward and faced strong opposition from pro-Kremlin politicians. Bulgaria’s defense minister had to be fired when he started echoing Russia’s war rhetoric. However, at least in public, Petkov has tried to play down the idea that he might help Bulgaria.
While the Socialist Party of Bulgaria (a direct descendant of the Communist Party) called the supply of arms to Ukraine a «red line,» officials close to Petkov decided to bypass the usual route and used intermediaries in Bulgaria and abroad to open supply routes.
Petkov told Die Welt that, according to his calculations, Bulgaria supplied Ukraine with about a third of the weapons it needed at the beginning of the war.
Just as seamlessly, Ukraine was supplied with diesel fuel produced from Russian crude oil at the Black Sea refineries, then owned by the Russian company Lukoil.
Kyiv also confirms this version. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told Die Welt that Ukraine was threatened with a shortage of ammunition last spring. It was a matter of life and death at that time, added Kuleba. Kuleba said:
«Kiril Petkov has shown integrity, and I will always be grateful to him for using all his political skills to find a solution.»
Petkov pointed out that his government gave export rights to an intermediary, and not to Ukraine, but to companies elsewhere. One of the main transport hubs was NATO’s heavily guarded Rzeszow Airport in Poland, about 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. According to information available to Die Welt, the weapons and ammunition were paid for by the United States and Great Britain.
In June, the information known to that narrow circle became public but was soon silenced, as the international media focused on arms supplies from Western countries. The Socialist Party of Bulgaria promised to break up the coalition if Kyiv was given support, but was unable to do so due to the lack of official support.
By creating secret supply lines for Ukraine, Petkov took a serious risk. Polls show that 70% of Bulgarians are worried about the country’s involvement in the war, and are therefore opposed to bigger support for Ukraine. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who is a Socialist, further fueled these concerns by suggesting that the arms deliveries would make Bulgaria a war party.
Bulgaria’s aid to Ukraine, however, did not completely escape Moscow’s eyes. Since May of last year, Bulgaria has experienced countless Russian cyberattacks. Also, Moscow tried to bribe the deputies and infiltrate the authorities. Between March and June, Bulgaria expelled about 70 persons from Russian embassy staff and diplomats for espionage.
Unfortunately, in the summer Petkov’s government was dismissed after a vote of no confidence, and pro-Russian forces also played a role in it. Since then, the country has entered a political deadlock, however, the attitude toward aid to Ukraine has changed. In December, the parliament decided to allow the official supply of arms to Ukraine. Ukraine’s foreign minister said he was grateful for the decision, but noted that there were visible efforts to sabotage it: «It is unbelievable how persistently these forces are trying to draw Bulgaria into the side of the aggressor and the butcher.»
Petkov pointed out that what they have done has shown that a world without dependence and fear of Russia is possible.
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