---
title: "Bulgaria issues ultimatum to EU: no sanctions without excluding Patriarch Kirill and Alekperov"
description: "Bulgaria has issued an ultimatum to the European Union: without excluding Patriarch Kirill and Vagit Alekperov from the sanctions list, the country will vote against. Prime Minister Rumen Radev explained this by the need to protect energy interests. 🇧🇬🚫🇷🇺"
date: 2026-07-03T19:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/bulgaria-ultimatum-eu-sanctions-against-kirill-and-alekperov
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Bulgaria issues ultimatum to EU: no sanctions without excluding Patriarch Kirill and Alekperov

![Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov in front of EU and Bulgarian flags, discussing ultimatum on sanctions](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/03/bolgariya-ultimatum-es-sanktsii-protiv-kirilla-i-alekperova/bolgariya-ultimatum-es-sanktsii-protiv-kirilla-i-alekperova-1.webp)

In Brussels, the agenda includes the discussion of the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. However, the unity of the European Union seems to be wavering: one of the member states has put forward strict conditions, without which it is preparing to veto new restrictions.

On July 3, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated directly in parliament that his country would oppose the proposed package if two key figures are not excluded from it: Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church and co-founder of LUKOIL, Vagit Alekperov.

### Energy is more important than politics

The reason for such a sharp statement lies not in ideology, but in pragmatism. Radev emphasized that the refusal to impose sanctions is necessary to protect Bulgaria's energy interests. Ties with Russian business, in particular with LUKOIL, are critical for the stability of the country's energy supply.

As for the church issue, the Bulgarian leader made an important clarification. He stated that he is not interested in the person of Patriarch Kirill as such. However, his position as head of the ROC has huge significance for regional stability and interfaith relations, making it impossible to include him in the sanctions list.

### Diplomatic deadlock and the EU position

Sofia's position is not isolated. Earlier, Italy also expressed concern about the introduction of restrictions against Patriarch Kirill. Nevertheless, in Brussels, the mood is resolute. The head of the EU diplomatic service, Kaja Kallas, has already proposed introducing a ban on issuing visas to the Russian Patriarch, considering this a necessary step.

The new sanctions package was planned to be approved next week. According to European officials, this will be a direct response to the combined shelling of Kyiv that took place on the night of July 2.

### The oil issue and geopolitics

Alongside the discussion of specific figures, disputes over energy resources continue in the EU. The Baltic states have called on the European Union to completely ban the import of Russian oil. However, negotiations on this issue have effectively stalled. The reason was the events in the Strait of Hormuz, where the closure of the waterway created new risks for world trade and threatened logistics chains.

Thus, before approving the 21st sanctions package, Brussels faces a difficult task: to maintain the unity of the front against Russia without losing the support of key partner countries that place their economic and geopolitical interests above common rhetoric.