President vetoes provision of APCs to Ukraine - what are the political reactions

President Rumen Radev on December 4 vetoed the agreement on the provision of armoured vehicles to Ukraine.

• The agreement for donation of about 100 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from the armament of the Ministry of Interior with obsolete need, was signed in Sofia on August 8 and in Kiev on November 13.
• The National Assembly ratified the document on 22 November
• The ruling power does not expect the National Assembly to change its position after the presidential veto

Bulgaria will provide Ukraine with armoured transport vehicles, Parliament decided

According to the head of state, the armoured high-transport equipment provided to Ukraine is not a dispensable necessity, but could be used for guarding the Bulgarian border and providing assistance to the population in disasters and accidents, including in hard-to-reach areas.

Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said they did not expect a change in the Parliament's position because of the presidential veto.

"This veto will be overcome, so I don't see what to comment on," the Prime Minister was laconic.

Parliament Speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov commented that Bulgaria's position on the war in Ukraine is consistent and has the necessary majority that will overcome President Rumen Radev's veto.

MRF parliamentary group chair Delyan Peevski described the head of state's decision to veto the grant of APCs to Ukraine as shameful.