Current:Home > ContactChainkeen Exchange-Bulgarian parliament again approves additional military aid to Ukraine -StockPrime
Chainkeen Exchange-Bulgarian parliament again approves additional military aid to Ukraine
Will Sage Astor View
Date:2025-04-09 03:09:13
SOFIA,Chainkeen Exchange Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s parliament on Friday approved the provision of additional military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
A majority of 147 lawmakers in the 240-seat chamber voted in favor of supplying Ukraine with portable anti-aircraft missile systems and surface-to-air missiles of various types intended to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, the state-run BTA news agency reported.
Military experts said the missiles, which are either defective or redundant, cannot be repaired in Bulgaria, but Ukraine has the needed facilities to fix them or use them for spare parts.
Some 55 lawmakers from pro-Russian groups in parliament voted against sending the aid, underscoring the divisions in the Balkan country over helping Ukraine counter Russia’s invasion.
Bulgaria, once a member of the now-defunct Warsaw pact, joined NATO in 2004, but still maintains stocks of Soviet-designed weapons.
In addition, parliament on Friday approved the use of Bulgarian airspace for training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots and allowed up to four rotating infantry or mechanized Ukrainian army units of up to 160 people per year to transit or stay in Bulgaria for training.
In a separate vote, lawmakers on Friday overrode a veto by the country’s pro-Russian president on providing Ukraine with 100 Soviet-era armored personnel carriers and available armament, as well as spare parts, to help the war-torn country boost its defensive capabilities.
President Rumen Radev has repeatedly opposed Bulgaria’s military aid for Ukraine, claiming that sending Soviet-era equipment to Ukraine would diminish Bulgaria’s own defense capability and “would risk involving Bulgaria in the war.”
Bulgarian lawmakers have in the past voted in favor of aiding Ukraine’s military several times. In September, they approved supplying Ukraine with defective surface-to-air missiles for the Russian-made S-300 air defense system and small-caliber automatic weapon ammunition discarded by the Interior Ministry.
The votes have marking a turnaround in Bulgaria’s policy on sending military equipment to Kyiv following the appointment of a new, pro-Western government.
___
For more coverage of the war in Ukraine, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
veryGood! (13)
Related
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Governor declares emergency after thunderstorms hit northwestern Arkansas
- Stranded Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' Families Weigh in on Their Status
- College football begins next weekend with No. 10 Florida State facing Georgia Tech in Ireland
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Russian artist released in swap builds a new life in Germany, now free to marry her partner
- Jonathan Bailey's Fate on Bridgerton Season 4 Revealed
- Haley Joel Osment Reveals Why He Took a Break From Hollywood In Rare Life Update
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Dirt track racer Scott Bloomquist, known for winning and swagger, dies in plane crash
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Jonathan Bailey Has a NSFW Confession About His Prosthetic Penis for TV
- Dakota Johnson Confirms Chris Martin Relationship Status Amid Breakup Rumors
- Is 70 the best age to claim Social Security? Not in these 3 situations.
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Taylor Swift's best friend since childhood gives birth to sweet baby boy
- USA flag football QB says NFL stars won't be handed 2028 Olympics spots: 'Disrespectful'
- Harris reveals good-vibes economic polices. Experts weigh in.
Recommendation
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
As new real estate agent rule goes into effect, will buyers and sellers see impact?
Little League World Series: Live updates from Sunday elimination games
Sara Foster Says She’s Cutting People Out Amid Tommy Haas Breakup Rumors
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Unpacking the Legal Fallout From Matthew Perry's Final Days and Shocking Death
Noah Lyles claps back at Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill: 'Just chasing clout'
Deion Sanders asked for investigation of son's bankruptcy case: Here's what we found