Bulgaria has indicated it may block a potential move by the European Commission if the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is included in future EU sanctions lists, President Rumen Radev said at an EU summit in Brussels, according to TASS.

Radev stated that Sofia is seriously considering using its veto power if Patriarch Patriarch Kirill is targeted by restrictive measures, questioning both the political logic and practical usefulness of such a step.

He emphasized Bulgaria’s historical and cultural ties with Orthodox Christianity, noting that Russian Orthodoxy played a significant role in Bulgaria’s liberation from centuries of Ottoman rule. He also described Bulgaria and Russia as nations sharing closely related Orthodox traditions and a sense of belonging to a broader spiritual community.

Radev added that any discussion of sanctions should take into account the position of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, stressing the sensitivity of religious issues in the country’s public life.

The Bulgarian president also expressed skepticism that including the Russian Orthodox Church leader in EU sanctions would contribute to efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

“We are ready to use a veto. Bulgaria will work to ensure that Patriarch Kirill is excluded from sanction measures,” Radev said.

Earlier, Vladimir Legoyda, head of the Synodal Department for Church–Society Relations and Media, described the European Commission’s reported initiative as “meaningless” and “lacking common sense,” underscoring criticism from Russian Orthodox Church representatives. Vladimir Legoyda