Bulgaria Reportedly Signals Opposition to EU Sanctions Against Russian Patriarch Kirill
Sofia says it will block the 21st package unless Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill is removed, as the EU needs unanimous approval from all 27 members.
- On June 18, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria will veto the European Union's 21st sanctions package if it includes Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, potentially blocking the measure that requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
- Radev justified the opposition by citing the Russian Orthodox Church's historical role in Bulgaria's liberation from five centuries of Ottoman slavery, arguing that shared religious ties between Bulgarian and Russian Orthodoxy necessitate consideration.
- The Prime Minister warned that Bulgaria "will not allow sanctions that harm and pose a risk to the Bulgarian economy," specifically citing the Lukoil Neftohim Burgas refinery as a potential exclusion trigger.
- Previously excluded from sanctions in 2022, Kirill's potential inclusion now revives past diplomatic disputes and raises questions about whether Bulgaria's stance will disrupt European Union unity on Russia policy.
- The European Commission introduced the 21st package on June 9, with adoption expected by the end of July; the European Council will discuss the measures in the coming weeks, placing Bulgaria's objection at the center of negotiations.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said that the country will veto the latest package of EU sanctions against Russia, as it could negatively affect the Bulgarian economy.
The country's government will not support new restrictions for two reasons. Bulgaria plans to veto the new EU sanctions package against Russia. Sofia explained that this will happen for two reasons. This was stated by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, according to RBC-Ukraine, citing Reuters. According to him, the new restrictions could harm the Bulgarian economy. Furthermore, the country's government does not agree with sanctions against Ru…
The planned sanctions could have a negative impact on the domestic economy, says Prime Minister Rumen Radew.
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