Bulgaria said it will veto the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia if two specific targets are not removed [1].
This opposition threatens the cohesion of the EU's diplomatic response to Russia, as the bloc typically requires unanimity to pass new sanctions. By blocking the package, Bulgaria could delay or derail further economic and political pressure on Moscow.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the position on June 18, 2026, during a parliamentary session and a European Council meeting [2]. The dispute centers on the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Vagit Alekperov, an executive at Lukoil [1], [2].
Radev said the move is necessary to protect the energy interests of Bulgaria, which are closely linked to the operations of Lukoil [2]. He also said that the government wishes to avoid sanctioning a religious leader.
"We cannot support sanctions that target the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a Bulgarian Lukoil representative," Radev said [2].
Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel said Bulgaria will not support the portion of the sanctions targeting Patriarch Kirill [3]. Radev said that if the list is not amended, Bulgaria will veto the 21st package [1].
The broader sanctions effort involves a mini-package discussed by EU envoys that targets about 10 individuals, including Kirill [4]. While some member states have shown readiness to support these measures, the requirement for a unanimous vote gives Sofia significant leverage over the final list.
Bulgaria's stance marks a point of friction within the council, as other nations seek to expand the list of sanctioned Russian officials and allies to increase pressure on the Kremlin's domestic, and religious infrastructure [2], [4].
“"If the list is not amended, Bulgaria will veto the 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia."”
Bulgaria's threat to veto the sanctions package highlights the fragility of EU consensus when national energy security and religious ties are at stake. By linking the veto to Lukoil and the Russian Orthodox Church, Sofia is signaling that its economic dependencies and cultural ties to Russia may outweigh the collective diplomatic goals of the European Union.
