Todor Tagarev

Former Defense Minister of Bulgaria, Professor Todor Tagarev, expressed skepticism regarding Ukraine's immediate NATO membership prospects, attributing this to the differing positions of certain member countries, as reported by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) amidst the NATO summit in Washington.

President Rumen Radev stated that Bulgaria would not be obliged to send military aid to Ukraine, highlighting his insistence on altering the joint statement at the B9 summit in Riga. The revised statement allows each B9 country to decide independently whether to provide military, financial, or humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Former Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev has clarified that there are no ongoing discussions within NATO regarding the deployment of Bulgarian military personnel to Ukraine. On the national radio, Tagarev emphasized that Bulgaria maintains a clear stance against sending troops to Ukraine, echoing the position held during the previous government led by Prime Minister Kiril Denkov.

Bulgaria's newly appointed caretaker Minister of Defense, Atanas Zapryanov, has pledged to expedite military aid to Ukraine. Speaking at the ceremony marking his assumption of office from his predecessor Todor Tagarev, Zapryanov underscored the urgency of accelerating the delivery of two military aid packages to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria has initiated a public procurement process for the overhaul of six engines used in MiG-29 fighter jets, as revealed by data in the Public Procurement Register. The procurement process began on April 5, 2024, with a deadline set for May 17, 2024, for interested parties to submit their bids.

Bulgaria faces mounting uncertainties regarding its preparedness to receive the first batch of F-16 Block 70 aircraft, with retired Minister of Defense Todor Tagarev highlighting significant infrastructure challenges in an interview shared on Facebook, as reported by "Focus."

Several current ministers in Bulgaria have announced their decision not to participate in the upcoming caretaker cabinet, adding a layer of complexity to the country's political landscape. Among those who have opted out are regional minister Andrey Tsekov, justice minister Atanas Slavov, sports minister Dimitar Iliev, and Todor Tagarev.

Defense Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov has urged for a significant increase in defense spending, advocating for a budget allocation of 2.5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Eftimov stressed that this measure is essential to bridge the gap in defense investments and ensure Bulgaria's security in the face of evolving global and regional challenges.

The Bulgarian military community is in mourning following the announcement of the passing of General Sabi Sabev, as confirmed by the Information Center of the Ministry of Defense on its Facebook page.

Defense Minister Todor Tagarev has underscored the imperative of maintaining consistent government leadership to address critical national and international priorities, including ongoing support for Ukraine.