SOFIA (dpa-AFX) – EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton has got an idea of the capacities of armaments companies in Bulgaria in view of the military aid needed for Ukraine. “There has been a lot of demand in the last few days, especially in Europe, and we have to expand our capacities,” said Breton on Wednesday during a visit to one of the largest defense companies in the south-eastern European country, as reported by state television.
Breton referred to EU consultations last week, at which it was decided to visit countries whose defense industries are willing to increase their capacities. “We started with Bulgaria, which has a tradition and rich history in this area,” said Breton. He was accompanied by interim Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov.
The defense industry of the former Eastern Bloc country can provide the ammunition that Ukraine needs. Bulgaria only decided on a first military aid package for Ukraine at the end of 2022. Shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression, the country indirectly exported weapons to Ukraine via intermediaries from other countries./el/DP/jha