Over 150 military personnel from the UK will join the Bulgarian task force. We are also having talks with Italy, but the task force will be under Bulgarian command, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said in Brussels ahead of the meeting of the European Council. 

The coalition is unanimous in its stance on Ukraine, the prime minister insisted, quoted by the Bulgarian news agency BTA. 

"We very clearly support Ukraine and the Ukrainian government. Humanitarian aid is in effect. As for the military aid - the truth is that 80% of Bulgarians do not support Bulgaria sending military aid to Ukraine. We have to take this into account. 

But we are not backing down in any way. Today we received words of appreciation for Bulgaria's very clear and strong position on Ukraine," Petkov says.

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