Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia due to Patriarch…
Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia due to Patriarch Kirill. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists upon arriving at the EU summit that Bulgaria would not support anti-Russian sanctions that could harm it.
Consensus
- Bulgaria vetoed the 21st EU sanctions package against Russia
- The sanctions package included measures against Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and energy sector figures like Vagit Alekperov
- Bulgaria's position was based on economic concerns and opposition to sanctions that could harm its economy
- Bulgaria opposed the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill in the sanctions
- The EU had previously considered similar sanctions against Patriarch Kirill in 2022
Points of divergence
- Bulgaria's opposition was specifically due to the economic impact on its own energy sector and the potential harm to the Lukoil company — vedomosti
- Bulgaria was prepared to veto the sanctions and exclude Patriarch Kirill from the list of sanctioned individuals — riamo
- Bulgaria's stance was based on religious solidarity with the Russian Orthodox Church and the shared Eastern Orthodox faith — vm
- Bulgaria had previously opposed sanctions against Rosatom, citing similar economic concerns — kommersant
Coverage (4 sources)
- Bulgaria Vetoed the 21st Package of EU Sanctions Against Russia — Ведомости
- Bulgaria Threatens to Veto EU Anti-Russian Sanctions — РИАМО
- Bulgaria may veto EU sanctions against Russia over Patriarch Kirill — Вечерняя Москва
- Bulgaria promised not to allow sanctions against Russia at the expense of its own economy — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- Bulgaria
- EU
- Russia
- Rumen Radev
- Kirill
- European Union
- LUKOIL
- Moskovskogo
- Sofia the Abbess
- Brussels
- Vesti
- Rosatom
- Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs
- Nova.bg
More on Rumen Radev
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- Bulgarian PM Warns EU Over Ukraine Arms Push
- Slovakia Opposes EU Veto Limitation Plans
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