“Yes, I Will Veto”: Bulgaria’s PM Stuns Brussels With Threat to Block Russia Sanctions Over Patriarch Kirill

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has confirmed that the country will block new sanctions against Russia, linking the decision to objections over proposals that would include Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the restrictive measures.

He argued that the war in Ukraine has expanded far beyond the battlefield and should not be extended into religious matters.

"Let's not mix politics with religion. Today in Sofia, I said that the time for crusades is over. This war has already gone beyond the trenches. It has spread to the economy, energy, we see that it affects culture and sports, and now it remains to cover religion. Yes, we will veto," Radev said.

The prime minister stressed that the issue is not the individual figure of Patriarch Kirill, but the broader relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church and its followers.

"I don’t care about Patriarch Kirill. I care about the Russian Orthodox Church, because Russian Orthodoxy contributed to our liberation from five centuries of Ottoman slavery. I don’t care what the patriarch does. I care about the entire Russian society that has this church. It is Eastern Orthodox, just like ours. We are one family," he stated.

Radev also insisted that the Bulgarian Orthodox Church should be consulted when such decisions are made, questioning the impact of sanctions on ending the conflict.

He further warned that additional restrictive measures could create risks for Bulgaria’s energy and infrastructure sectors, including nuclear power operations, public transport supply chains and agricultural imports.

"I can point out the risk to the functioning of the Kozloduy NPP, the risk to the supply of spare parts to the Sofia metro, as well as the concerns of the Ministry of Agriculture about the supply of fertilizers to Bulgaria and the European Union. All these issues are yet to be considered in the councils of the European Union," he said.

Speaking in Brussels ahead of a European Council meeting, Radev reiterated that sanctions would not be allowed if they threaten Bulgaria’s economic stability.

He clarified that the sanctions discussion is not part of the current summit agenda and will instead be addressed later at a foreign ministers’ meeting.

According to him, Bulgaria has already raised reservations about the proposed measures due to their potential economic impact.

"We will not discuss sanctions at this council. Sanctions will be decided in July at the Council of Foreign Ministers. Bulgaria has already expressed certain reservations about these sanctions, because we have already stated our position that we will not allow sanctions that harm and pose a risk to Bulgaria and the economy," he said.

Radev also listed further concerns related to possible restrictions, including risks for fuel supplies, urban transport systems and agricultural inputs across the EU.

He reiterated that Bulgaria would not obstruct collective EU decisions on Ukraine and confirmed support for Ukraine’s EU accession process.

He added that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled during his Brussels visit.

At the same time, he emphasized that Bulgaria will formally request the removal of Patriarch Kirill from the proposed sanctions list.