The Effects of the Russia-Ukraine War on Bulgaria

Abstract

This paper aims to review Bulgaria’s responses to the war in Ukraine. It examines how it reacted to the Russian aggression that began in February 2022, and how its relationship with Russia and its Western allies was transformed. Since the beginning of the invasion, despite its preliminarily good relations with Moscow, Bulgaria has committed itself to supporting Ukraine, even if this decision has been criticized by some actors within the political spectrum. The paper argues that Russian energy dependence and influence in the country decreased significantly.