Bulgaria’s veto blocks EU sanctions on Lukoil’s founder and Patriarch Kirill, despite their public support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The European Union will exclude Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov and Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill from its latest sanctions package. Bulgaria vetoed the proposal, preventing the 27-member bloc from imposing financial penalties on the two figures, who have openly backed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kirill, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly justified the war as “sacred,” while Alekperov heads Russia’s largest private oil company. The EU had considered targeting both amid broader efforts to pressure Moscow over its military actions.
The decision follows internal divisions within the EU, where unanimity is required for sanctions. No immediate market reaction was reported, though the move may ease concerns over potential disruptions to Lukoil’s European operations.