Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Bulgaria will not back European sanctions that could harm the national economy or energy sector, as debate continues in the EU over the 21st package of measures against Russia. Speaking to journalists in Sofia ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels, he questioned the effectiveness of the sanctions so far, asking what tangible results they have produced in terms of ending the war in Ukraine or advancing peace.

European Council in Brussels opens amid expectations that Bulgaria’s new Prime Minister Rumen Radev could play a more assertive role in shaping EU debates on Ukraine, the budget and foreign policy, Politico reports. Radev, formerly president, is now attending his first European Council summit as head of government after what the publication describes as a political reset at home, including the creation of his own party and a decisive election win following a period of domestic deadlock.

GERB MP and former foreign minister Daniel Mitov questioned Bulgaria’s decision to oppose the inclusion of Russian Patriarch Kirill in the latest European Union sanctions package against Russia, arguing that the move is difficult to justify from the perspective of the national interest. According to Mitov, it is hard to understand why Bulgaria would risk creating obstacles to a broader sanctions package because of what he described as one of the most visible supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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.