---
title: "Bulgaria shifts course: quitting the 'Coalition of the Willing' and betting on diplomacy"
description: "Bulgaria has officially refused to participate in the 'Coalition of the Willing', stating that diplomacy is being used insufficiently. Foreign Minister Vessela Petrova-Chamova confirmed in Kyiv that Sofia will continue to assist Ukraine with energy resources but will not support military coalitions outside the framework of the EU and NATO. 🇧🇬🇺🇦"
date: 2026-07-16T10:14:04.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bulgaria-shifts-course-quitting-coalition-of-the-willing-and-betting-on-diplomacy
tags: [velislava-petrova-chamova, rumen-radev, coalition-of-the-willing, bulgaria, ukraine]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Bulgaria shifts course: quitting the 'Coalition of the Willing' and betting on diplomacy

![Bulgarian politician in front of EU and Bulgarian flags, symbolizing the country's shift from the 'Coalition of the Willing' to diplomacy](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/16/bolgariya-otkazyvaetsya-ot-koalitsii-reshitelnykh-i-stavka-na-diplomatiyu/bolgariya-otkazyvaetsya-ot-koalitsii-reshitelnykh-i-stavka-na-diplomatiyu-1.webp)

An important meeting took place in Kyiv, defining a new vector for Sofia's foreign policy. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Vessela Petrova-Chamova, while in the Ukrainian capital, voiced her government's position regarding the current war. According to her, the diplomatic tool for ending the conflict is being used insufficiently, yet support for Ukraine, especially in the energy sector, will remain a priority.

### Reasons for leaving the coalition

The key topic of discussion was Bulgaria's stance towards the 'Coalition of the Willing'. Earlier, on July 14, Prime Minister Rumen Radev officially announced the country's withdrawal from this format. The head of the Bulgarian government explained that the Sofia cabinet cannot support an initiative that prioritizes the continuation of military aid at the expense of diplomatic efforts to achieve peace.

Vessela Petrova-Chamova, answering journalists' questions in Kyiv, confirmed this position. She emphasized that to achieve a sustainable and just peace, it is necessary to work simultaneously in three directions:

    - Continued support for Ukraine;

    - Effective economic measures against Russia;

    - A diplomatic track leading the parties to the negotiating table.

"We believe that the third direction has been used insufficiently," the minister stated, noting that Bulgaria is ready to support any diplomatic initiatives, as well as the EU's sanctions policy.

### Energy security and the 'anti-ballistic' coalition

Despite the change in rhetoric regarding military aid, Sofia does not intend to give up practical support for Kyiv. Petrova-Chamova specifically highlighted the issue of energy security ahead of winter. Thanks to its geographical location at the intersection of critically important routes, Bulgaria is capable of supplying Ukraine with gas and other energy resources.

"This is one of the areas we are actively working on now," the Foreign Minister clarified.

In addition to leaving the 'Coalition of the Willing', the Bulgarian government also distanced itself from the so-called 'anti-ballistic coalition'. Commenting on the initiative, which involves 10 countries, Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated that issues of collective security must be resolved exclusively within the framework of the EU and NATO, where Bulgaria has its own weight, rather than in external formats.