Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev declined a personal invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to join the so-called coalition of the willing, a group pushing for continued financial and military support for Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in Paris on July 14, 2026, where he was attending Bastille Day celebrations, Radev said Bulgaria's place is not within the bloc.
Radev argued that providing military aid to Kyiv only prolongs the conflict and that a strong diplomatic initiative remains the only viable path to resolution. He rejected the notion of extending the war through military means, saying collective security decisions should be taken within the EU and NATO frameworks, where Bulgaria maintains an active role.
The stance is consistent with Radev's long-standing opposition; as president from 2017 to 2026, he repeatedly resisted arms shipments to Ukraine. He has also advocated for pragmatic relations with Moscow and recently demanded the EU drop sanctions against Patriarch Kirill to protect Bulgarian national interests.