Bulgaria will veto the European Union’s next sanctions package against Russia if it includes measures targeting Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on June 18.

Speaking to journalists in Brussels, where he attended a meeting of the European Council, Radev said Sofia would block the proposed 21st round of EU sanctions if the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is listed, Dnevnik reported.

“I’m not interested in Patriarch Kirill at all, I’m interested in the Russian Orthodox Church,” Radev said, arguing that shared religious and historical ties should be taken into account. “We are from one family,” he said, referring to links between Bulgarian and Russian Orthodoxy.

The European Commission unveiled the latest sanctions package on June 9, with member states expected to discuss the measures in the coming weeks. EU diplomats told Politico earlier this week that Bulgaria had already signalled opposition to parts of the package.

The possible inclusion of Patriarch Kirill is not new. The cleric, a vocal supporter of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, was considered for sanctions in 2022 but was ultimately excluded after failing to secure unanimous backing among EU countries.

Radev also reiterated that Bulgaria would resist any sanctions that could harm its economy. “We will not allow measures that reflect negatively on the Bulgarian economy,” he said.

The stance marks a broader shift under Bulgaria’s new government, formed after April elections, and could complicate efforts to maintain EU unity on Russia. The bloc requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states to adopt sanctions.

Earlier this month, Sofia said it would halt deliveries of weapons from state military stockpiles to Ukraine. Radev said Bulgaria had already provided sufficient assistance and must prioritise domestic security and economic stability.

The policy change follows Radev’s longstanding scepticism about Western military support for Kyiv and his calls for a negotiated settlement to the conflict. His position has drawn comparisons with former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who frequently clashed with EU partners over Russia policy.

Radev has argued there is no military solution to the war, criticised arms deliveries to Ukraine and warned against long-term security commitments to Kyiv. In a tense exchange in 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked Radev for advocating negotiations with Moscow.

EU member states are expected to debate the proposed sanctions package through July, with adoption dependent on securing unanimous support.