Bulgaria will no longer participate in the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of countries that supports Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. This was announced by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who in June pledged that Sofia would veto a new package of EU sanctions against Russia, Bloomberg reports.

“We are not participating in a coalition that insists on continuing financial and military aid to Ukraine,” Radev told journalists. “The solution to this conflict is not in prolonging it by military means, but in a strong diplomatic mission that will finally put an end to the escalation.”

Rumen Radev is known as an ardent critic of providing military assistance to Ukraine. Since taking office in May, he has stopped providing free military assistance to Kyiv, although arms sales have not been suspended.

Also, Radev has repeatedly denied accusations that he has a pro-Kremlin stance on the Ukrainian war. According to the politician, he is in favor of “pragmatic” relations with Moscow.