Bulgaria’s new government has called on Brussels to focus on restoring diplomatic relations with Moscow rather than implementing sanctions that could backfire on European nations, according to Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova.

Petrova stated on Wednesday that the EU’s latest proposed sanctions package against Russia includes measures that may ultimately harm its own member states. While Bulgaria supports sanctions with tangible economic consequences, it opposes those that would cause greater damage to Europe than to Russia.

The country, which relies heavily on Russian energy imports, has emphasized maintaining national energy stability and has established similar red lines as other EU nations. Bulgaria recently announced a suspension of military assistance to Ukraine, a decision Radev defended by arguing that Ukraine’s primary challenge is a shortage of manpower rather than weapons.

Petrova also criticized the EU’s proposal to sanction Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), calling it “the pinnacle of absurdity” and warning that such actions risk being interpreted as religious persecution. The ROC has consistently denounced the sanctions as such.