Bulgaria to veto EU sanctions against Russian Patriarch
Bulgaria has officially announced its position regarding the European Union's proposed new sanctions against Russia. Our country is prepared to exercise its right to a veto if Patriarch Kirill of Russia is included in the list of sanctioned individuals.
President Rumen Radev stated that the inclusion of religious leaders in sanctions lists is unacceptable. According to the Bulgarian authorities, such measures could lead to tension and affect freedom of religion, which is an important value for the country.
This decision by Bulgaria raises the question of European Union unity in making foreign policy decisions. Every member state has the right to express disagreement when it believes that certain measures contradict its national interests or principles.
Diplomatic talks on the subject are continuing in Brussels. It is expected that representatives of the other EU countries will discuss the Bulgarian position and seek a compromise solution that preserves the unity of the union in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Bulgarian government emphasizes that it remains committed to the common EU policy, but will continue to defend its positions on issues it considers critically important to its domestic and foreign policy.