EditBulgarian PM Radev emerges as EU summit’s new vocal dissenter on Russia sanctions
The European Council session also exposed deepening fractures over how (or whether) to engage the Kremlin
In his first European Council summit as Bulgaria’s Prime Minister on Thursday, Rumen Radev adopted a combative stance reminiscent of former Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán, immediately signalling Bulgaria’s willingness to wield its veto power over the EU’s proposed 21st sanctions package against Russia.
Speaking to journalists in Brussels ahead of the meetings, Radev declared that Sofia would veto the package unless Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill is removed from the list, arguing against mixing politics with religion and invoking shared Orthodox heritage. “The era of the Crusades is over,” he stated bluntly, adding: “I’m not interested in Patriarch Kirill personally. I’m interested in the Russian Orthodox Church,” which he credited with helping Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule. He also cited economic risks to Bulgaria, including impacts on the Lukoil refinery in Burgas, spare parts for Sofia’s metro, fertilizer supplies, and nuclear operations.
The 21st sanctions package, which includes measures on energy, shadow fleet operations, and high-profile figures like Patriarch Kirill, now faces further delays pending foreign ministers’ work in July.
Radev’s comments positioned Bulgaria as the latest obstacle to EU unity on Russia after Hungary’s recent political shift reduced Orbán’s influence. Analysts and diplomats have openly questioned whether the Russia-skeptical populist – fresh from a landslide election victory – will fill the “spoiler” vacuum in the European Council.
Despite the strong rhetoric on the new sanctions, Bulgaria did not obstruct broader EU consensus. Leaders, including Radev, adopted conclusions on Ukraine, European defence and security, and the routine rolling-over of existing sanctions against Russia. Radev also affirmed support for Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.
The European Council session exposed deepening fractures over how (or whether) to engage the Kremlin, with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz launching a fierce broadside against EU Council President António Costa’s backchannel contacts with Moscow. The E3 powers insisted the time for talks with Putin had not arrived and that any future negotiations must be led by France, Germany, and the UK – not the EU apparatus – while several Eastern and Northern European leaders rallied in support, decrying premature outreach as misguided appeasement.
#EUCO | 🇸🇮 Prime Minister Janez Janša welcomed the initiative by the office of European Council President @AntónioCosta to establish communication channels with the Kremlin, 🇷🇺.
“Any steps that can lead to a cessation of hostilities and negotiations should be welcomed. As long… pic.twitter.com/pC6elQ2zMi— Slovenia to the EU (@SLOtoEU) June 18, 2026
The discord, unfolded at a moment when Ukrainian strikes were literally setting Russian energy infrastructure ablaze – a potent reminder that Putin’s leverage is eroding under sustained pressure, even as internal EU divisions risk complicating unified strategy.
The first day of the two-day summit featured a reception with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking his first Brussels visit since Orbán’s ouster. A circulated photo of Radev’s meeting with Zelenskyy conveyed a notably tense atmosphere, echoing past public clashes between the two. Zelenskyy used the platform to push for accelerated EU membership for Ukraine.
In conversations with journalists summed up by EUalive’s partner Suspilne, Zelenskyy delivered a confident assessment of Ukraine’s military standing and future needs following the 35th Ramstein-format meeting and the Ukraine-European Council session. He described the discussions as the longest and most substantive in Ukraine’s history with partners, stressing broad recognition of Ukraine’s strength. Zelenskyy highlighted urgent requirements for air defence systems, funding for army contracts, and European ballistic missile development, while urging full European engagement on sanctions without exceptions, asset confiscations, and financial support for Ukraine.
In a notable declaration, he stated: “Today, Ukraine is de facto the second army of NATO, which is not inferior to the second army of the world,” adding that this reality makes Ukraine essential to NATO de jure and that security guarantees are indispensable to prevent Putin’s future aggression. He also announced agreements for additional F-16s and the need to urgently train pilots, while welcoming the opening of the first EU accession negotiation cluster as historically significant.
Discussions on the first day of the summit also touched on competitiveness, global economic challenges, and enlargement, with the meeting set to continue on Friday. Radev’s debut has already drawn attention as a test of whether Bulgaria will become a new focal point of internal EU friction on Russia policy.
With European Pravda and Suspilne.
Caption: Photo of Rumen Radev and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and their delegations on 18 June 2026, made available by Bulgaria’s Permanent Representation to the EU
Updated: June 19, 2026 - 08:20
