Targeting Patriarch Kirill risks fuelling EU scepticism, Bulgarian foreign minister warns

Bulgaria's foreign minister, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, is cautioning that targeting Patriarch Kirill in EU sanctions could undermine the bloc's credibility. She argues that sanctions should significantly impact Russia's economy rather than serve as mere symbolic gestures. This move reflects Sofia's stance against including the head of Russia's Orthodox Church in the latest sanctions package, highlighting the delicate balance between religious influence and geopolitical strategy in EU foreign policy.