Bulgaria’s new foreign minister Velislava Petrova told reporters in Sofia the country will block the EU’s latest sanctions package that targets Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill. Petrova argued the measures are symbolic, freezing limited assets and imposing travel bans that will not curb his Kremlin‑aligned activity. The decision may sway regional energy contracts linked to Russian pipelines.

The proposal echoes Hungary’s 2022 resistance, when Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked Kirill’s inclusion on sanctions lists citing religious‑freedom concerns. EU members hoped Orban’s April electoral defeat would smooth a tougher stance on Moscow after four years of war in Ukraine. Petrova maintained that only sanctions with tangible economic impact and diplomatic relevance merit support, not token freezes.

Bulgaria’s stance aligns with Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s call for “pragmatic” ties to Russia, a position critics label pro‑Kremlin. While Radev seeks a higher profile in EU and NATO, his skepticism of punitive measures could affect the bloc’s cohesion on future Russia‑related policies. Bulgaria will therefore firmly vote against the EU sanctions on Kirill at the next council in Brussels.