But Sofia did not . That's because as Minister of Economy and Industry she was responsible for the arms trade. It is, as yet, unclear whether the situation wont spill over into further excesses, Valery Todorov says in conclusion. Bozhilov said he planned to discuss which sort of equipment could be repaired in Bulgaria. In view of our historical ties, we have an equally good attitude towards Ukraine and towards Russia, and we can only express regret that two close nations have come to such a conflict. If you were to drive from Bulgaria to Ukraine, it would take you around 11 hours to reach your destination. Footage from April shows cargo planes loaded to the brim with weapons flying between Bulgaria and Poland. Already clear from Russias rift with Bulgaria is that its faltering progress on the battlefield in Ukraine has been accompanied by often self-inflicted setbacks on the diplomatic front. We made sure that the overland route via Romania and Hungary was also open to trucks, Petkov said. Security issues have again become paramount among NATO members, making the alliance far more relevant. He organized two tankers of liquefied natural gas from the United States at the same price per cubic meter as Gazprom was charging. Moscow knew Bulgaria was the EU country most dependent on Russian gas before the war and decided to make an example of it. Petkov's government was toppled by a vote of no confidence in the summer of 2022 and has not been replaced. Bulgaria, if war is near - OBC Transeuropa The shortest distance (air line) between Ukraine and Bulgaria is 544.58 mi (876.41 km). The Romania-Ukraine international border was first delineated as part of the Paris Peace Treaties signed in 1947 in the aftermath of the Second World War. Antipode: -42.66667,-154.75. The story, he said, was simple: While some members of the Bulgarian coalition sided with Russia, Petkov decided to be on the right side of history and help us defend ourselves against a much stronger enemy.. But, according to Mr. Petkov, the prime minister, Russia gravely miscalculated by turning Bulgaria into a test of its ability to inflict economic damage and alter government policy in support of Ukraine. Johanna Deimel, a regional expert who sits on the board of the Southeast Europe Association (SOG), underscores the complexity of Bulgaria's decision at a time when there are strong pro-Russian forces in the country. Ukraine Needs Ground-Based Air Defenses Way More Than MiGs. Here Are Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. Formerly communist, the country switched . Cross-border movement on the border is restricted, with Ukraine even employing biometric controls on Russian visitors. Bulgaria and the international community condemn Putin's recognition of separatist regions in Ukraine. What is the cheapest style to become from Bulgaria to Ukraine? Only a day after the parliamentary debate and the decision on Ukraine, Bulgaria's President Radev attacked the move again, describing the repair of Ukrainian military equipment as "a dangerous step.". Between March and June, Bulgaria expelled some 70 staff from the Russian embassy in Sofia for spying. Bulgarian National Radio 2023 All Rights Reserved, Jens Stoltenberg welcomes Germanys decision to put the certification of Nord Stream 2 on hold, VMRO party to boycott the April 2 elections, The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is escalating, according to Bulgarian analysts, Some surprising participants in upcoming vote, but with no chance of a seat in parliament. Find out where Greece is located and how far away Greece is from hot spots in the Middle East such as Lebanon and Baghdad. Bulgaria doesn't produce its own spare parts either. Did Bulgaria "secretly save Ukraine"? See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Bulgaria secretly supported Ukraine in first six months of war Last updated: xviii Dec 2022 Exceptions may apply, for full details: Visit Ukraine. But Petkov and Vassilev, now opposition politicians seeking a path back to power in expected upcoming elections, have broken their silence on the true scale of Bulgarias role last spring. "The war in Ukraine is not a conflict between . German abortion clinics targeted by US-style protests, Belgian court paves way for Iran prisoner swap treaty, Palestinians in occupied West Bank live with uncertainty, Thousands of migrants have died in South Texas. On April 19, shortly before a visit to Kyiv by Petkov, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba traveled to Sofia, as a new and uncertain phase of the war began. Bulgaria itself needs about half of the fuel the refinery produces; the rest, he says, has been shipped to Ukraine. That's because here, in this southeastern European Union state, politicians are divided as to how they feel about Moscow. According to speculation in the local media, this doesn't involve heavy weaponslike tanks or planes. While race no doubt plays a role in attitudes, experts say it's not the only reason that Ukrainians are being welcomed warmly. The report also revealed that the diesel supplied by Bulgaria to Ukraine was processed in a refinery belonging to Russia's Lukoil located in the Black Sea. "Bulgaria has not supplied any weapons directly to Ukraine. Present day concerns, however, quickly eclipsed the effort to remind Bulgaria of the debt it owed Russia. The Ukrainians had pushed the invaders back from the broader Kyiv region and the north, but many Western weapons had not yet been delivered. This article was originally written in German. Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is 926 miles away from Athens. Kuleba told WELT his country was in danger of running out of ammunition last April. Wizz has . Highlights and goals: Ukraine 1-1 Bulgaria in Friendly Match Sweden announced in late February that it would send 10,000 single . This war is a big nail in the coffin of our enchantment with Russia, said Ruslan Stefanov, program director for the Center for the Study of Democracy, a research organization in Sofia. Ukraine to Bulgaria - 8 ways to travel via train, bus, plane, shuttle Anyone can read what you share. Cumulatively Ukraines maritime border is 842 miles in length and is shared with Romania and Russia. Geopolitical pressures and changing economic tides make for a volatile shipping market. In the weeks since, Bulgaria, a country that Moscow long counted as its most ardent and reliable friend in Europe, has joined fellow members of the European Union in imposing ever tougher economic sanctions on Russia, offered to repair broken military helicopters and tanks for Ukraine, and expelled yet more Russian diplomats. How healthy are India's 1.4 billion people? Pro-Ukrainian demonstrators gathered in front of the monument to the Soviet army in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 4 to oppose protesters who are against weapons sales to Ukraine amid the war with Russia. To me, it's the same as what has Petkov said that we have shown that a world is possible without dependence on Russia. Ukraine has passed legislation requiring Russian visitors intending to cross the border inform local authorities of their intentions well in advance. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. . Within 24 hours, Prime Minister Petkov presented a solution that would allow Bulgarias nearly 7 million inhabitants to get by without gas from Russia. However, for many years the two countries were embroiled in a territorial dispute emanating from the demarcation of the maritime border. In 2014, the two nations agreed on local border traffic in a provisional agreement. How long does it take to get from Bulgaria to Ukraine? Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Saturday that the death toll in Turkey from last month's massive earthquakes has to 45,968. Transport services may exist reduced or suspended. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. Yep, entry into Ukraine is currently allowed from Bulgaria. Petkov insists one thing is irreversible: We have shown that a world is possible without dependence and fear of Russia.. The list of arms is classified, but government officials have said Sofia would mainly send light weaponry and ammunition. In the former Soviet satellite state, the Bulgarian government was so divided on providing military aid . The commemoration is a sign of the historically close ties between Bulgaria and Russia, which have now been complicated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Latest news, analysis and comment on elections in Europe and beyond. The Bulgarian Socialist Party, or BSP, is traditionally friendly towards Russia and since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 this year, itthreatened to leave the country's coalition government if Sofia were to send weapons to Ukraine. The delicate position Bulgaria is in is connected with two important factors. On the one hand the fears of a mass Russian invasion have not come to pass, on the other the development of the crisis is definitely a cause for concern. "The events that are happening only 400 km from our borders are a good reason to think about what are categories such as security and stability, which in days of prosperity we take for granted, but a quick 'change' is able to destroy everything in days. Bulgaria's former government quietly supplied Ukraine with weapons soon after Russia invaded last year, according to an investigation by the German daily Die Welt. He even had to fire his own defense minister for parroting Russias spin on the war. While Petkov, who was Bulgarian prime minister at the outbreak of the war, was attempting to pull the country in a more westward, pro-NATO trajectory, he had to grapple with intense blowback from pro-Kremlin politicians, including among his coalition partners, the Socialists, who are the successors to the old Communist Party. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. In the summer of 2022, Bulgaria faced political changes and Petkov's government was dismissed. Bulgaria, one of the poorest EU members and long perceived as pro-Moscow, helped Ukraine survive Russia's early onslaught by secretly supplying it with large amounts of desperately needed diesel . He stressed that it was not a matter of the Bulgarian government providing military aid directly to Ukraine, but rather of Ukrainian companies and companies from NATO countries being given the opportunity to procure what was needed from Bulgarian vendors.. Bulgaria secretly supplied Ukraine fuel and ammunition in early months Each year on March 3 Bulgaria celebrates "Liberation Day," marking the end of Ottoman rule after the Russo-Ottoman War of 1877-78. Though slim, there is still some hope that diplomacy will prevail, even though the sanctions against Russia are a fact. This is the point on the Earth's surface when you draw a straight line from Bulgaria through the centre of the earth. can afford to stand up to Putin, everybody should be able to stand up to Putin, he said. President Rumen Radev, a nominee of the Socialist Party, stoked this sentiment, claiming that Bulgaria would become a party to the war if arms were supplied. By February 28, all of them must register their candidate-MP lists with the Central.. Ms. Koleva said many Bulgarians acknowledged that their country had benefited from Russian help in the 19th century and still felt some gratitude. Some political analysts say recognition of the two republics can be said to be an attempt to overcome a military conflict on a larger scale, but according to Valery Todorov tension there is not abating.