Ukraine remains interested in acquiring two Russian-made nuclear reactors currently owned by Bulgaria. This was stated by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, during a joint press conference with the acting Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Andrey Gyurov, in Kyiv.
This is reported by Finway
Strategic Cooperation Between Ukraine and Bulgaria
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to continue cooperation with Bulgaria in the energy sector, particularly regarding the purchase of nuclear units. The President emphasized that following Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with six reactors, the issue of developing nuclear energy is especially pressing for the country. He pointed out the economic viability of this type of electricity generation for Ukraine.
“When we talk about units, in my opinion, we are signaling that we are ready to continue cooperation in this direction,” Zelensky noted.
The President also stressed that Bulgaria could potentially support Ukraine in addressing its energy needs and provide assistance to other countries in the region, including Moldova, which is currently facing an electricity shortage.
Zelensky highlighted that although Ukraine currently lacks a sufficient number of units, the necessary infrastructure has already been built. Acquiring these two reactors, he said, would strengthen Ukraine’s energy independence and provide Bulgaria with additional revenue.
Position of the Bulgarian Side
The acting Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Andrey Gyurov, explained that the issue of transferring the nuclear reactors currently depends on the political situation in the country. He noted that price and technical aspects are not the main concerns, as Bulgaria is preparing for early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19. According to him, any decision regarding the transfer of ownership rights must be approved by the Bulgarian Parliament.
Gyurov added that Bulgaria is already actively negotiating with the Ukrainian side in the energy sector and discussing the possibility of transferring the reactors to Ukraine. A final decision will be made after the new composition of Parliament is formed.