Ukraine entered into a 10-year defense pact with Bulgaria, a significant arms producer, concerning the manufacturing of drones and other weaponry, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared on Monday.
The Ukrainian president expressed he was "very happy" with the agreement, which was finalized during a visit to Kyiv by Bulgaria's acting Prime Minister, Andrey Gyurov.
Zelenskyy stated at a press conference that the agreement includes "collaborative production, within our nations, of different kinds of weapons, such as drones."
Zelenskyy stated that the duration of the agreement should enable the "systematisation" of security collaboration, especially in light of the swift technological advancements in drones, which are crucial in Ukraine's battle against Russia's large-scale invasion.
Bulgaria, currently a member of NATO and the EU, was part of the communist bloc during the Cold War and for many years manufactured ammunition and weapons to Soviet specifications, which are also utilized by the Ukrainian military.
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Government statistics indicate that almost 4percent of Bulgaria's GDP is generated by the defense sector, which has prospered since Russia began the conflict in Ukraine in 2022.
Sofia has delivered significant amounts of arms to Kyiv, and Gyurov praised the new agreement as the "outcome of extensive preparation."
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"This is not just a formality; it's a shared commitment to our Euro-Atlantic security," he remarked during the press conference with Zelenskyy.
The two leaders stated they are collaborating on establishing a gas corridor known as the Vertical Gas Corridor to connect Greece with various nations in southeastern Europe.
The deal with Bulgaria follows closely on the heels of a series of similar agreements that Zelenskyy established with partners in the Gulf.
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Zelenskyy stated on Monday that Ukraine consented to supply Gulf nations with its entire air defense system — comprising maritime drones, electronic warfare, and interception technology — to counter Iranian drones, following a tour of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.