Ukraine and Bulgaria Forge 10-Year Security Cooperation Pact in Kyiv

In a significant move to bolster regional defense, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Bulgaria's Interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov officially signed a 10-year bilateral security cooperation agreement. The landmark pact was finalized on March 30 during Gyurov's diplomatic visit to Kyiv.

A Decade of Strategic Defense

The newly minted agreement lays out a comprehensive framework for long-term military and strategic collaboration. Addressing the press at a joint briefing, President Zelensky emphasized the extensive preparation behind the accord.

"Today, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria and I signed a security agreement between our countries. Our teams have been working on this for a long time," Zelensky stated. He detailed that the agreement will remain in effect for a decade.

"The main points are the continuation of military support from Bulgaria (...), which we discussed today; joint production on the territory of our countries of various weapons, including drones. We discussed that Bulgaria will use the SAFE program for such joint production," the Ukrainian President highlighted.

Strengthening Euro-Atlantic Integration

Interim Prime Minister Gyurov highlighted the broader geopolitical implications of the treaty, framing it as a vital step for regional stability.

"Today, the President and I signed a security cooperation agreement that has been in preparation for a long time. I am glad we were able to do it this time. This is not just some formality, it is joint work in the dimension of our common Atlantic security," Gyurov remarked.

Furthermore, Gyurov announced that the Bulgarian cabinet has approved a national financial contribution to the NATO PURL program. This initiative allows European allies to fund the procurement of American-made weaponry for Ukraine's defense needs.

Expanding Economic and Transport Ties

Beyond military defense, the March 30 meeting marked the first intergovernmental consultations between the two nations, yielding several key civilian agreements:

• Energy and Maritime Security: Both governments successfully agreed on a strategic roadmap to enhance cooperation in the energy sector and secure maritime routes.
• Transport Connectivity: Looking ahead to the summer, Ukraine and Bulgaria are planning the test launch of a new passenger train route that will connect the two countries via Romania.