Europe's 'Coalition of the Willing' Falling Apart: Bulgaria Becomes First Nation to Leave

Bulgaria has become the first country to withdraw from the "Coalition of the Willing," the group of nations coordinating military support initiatives for Ukraine, while Italy has declined to participate in the coalition's upcoming military exercises. The developments highlight growing differences among European governments over the future direction of support for Kyiv. Bulgaria Withdraws From the Coalition Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced his country's withdrawal following the coalition summit in Paris on July 13. He said the conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved by prolonging military action and argued that determined diplomacy offers the only path toward ending the fighting. Bulgaria becomes the first nation to leave the coalition, reducing its membership to 34 countries, including Ukraine.