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Bulgaria Won't Block EU's 21st Sanctions Package Against Russia Despite Objections
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Bulgaria will not block the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia and Belarus, despite maintaining objections to several proposed measures, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov stated.
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Speaking to Bulgarian broadcaster bTV, Stoyanov said the Bulgarian government had approved its official position on the new sanctions package, according to Bulgarian news outlet Novinite. He confirmed that while Sofia would continue to voice reservations over several provisions, it would not exercise its veto.
The minister stated that Bulgaria remains opposed to the proposed inclusion of Russian Patriarch Kirill on the EU sanctions list. Sofia argues that sanctioning the head of the Russian Orthodox Church would have no meaningful economic or financial impact on Russia and would not contribute to ending the war in Ukraine.
The Bulgarian government also objects to proposed sanctions against Vagit Alekperov, a current shareholder in Russian oil giant Lukoil. Officials warn that restrictions targeting Alekperov could have significant repercussions for Lukoil Group companies operating in Bulgaria, which they say play an important role in the country's economy.
A third area of concern relates to measures that could affect the operation and maintenance of Sofia's metro system. While the government did not disclose specific details, local reports indicate that Bulgarian authorities are concerned sanctions on certain Russian-linked companies could complicate the servicing of metro trains.
The decision marks a shift from Bulgaria's earlier position. In June, Sofia signaled its opposition to several elements of the sanctions package, particularly the proposed designation of Patriarch Kirill, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported. At the time, the package, unveiled by the European Commission on June 9, was expected to be adopted by the end of July, according to BNR correspondent Angelina Piskova in Brussels.
The European Commission proposed sanctioning Patriarch Kirill over his continued public backing of Russia's war against Ukraine. According to BNR, Bulgaria has opposed the measure and is seeking to prevent his inclusion on the EU sanctions list.
The development comes days after Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the country had exhausted its capacity to provide Ukraine with additional weapons and ammunition from its military stockpiles.
Speaking ahead of the NATO Summit, he stated that Bulgaria had already delivered 13 military aid packages to Ukraine and no longer had surplus weapons available for transfer from the Bulgarian Armed Forces' inventories. He added that Sofia would continue supporting Kyiv by repairing Ukrainian military equipment, according to UNITED24 Media correspondent.
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