Italy joins Bulgaria in defending Russian Patriarch Kirill.

A spokesperson for Italy’s permanent representation to the EU declined to comment.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a Council of Ministers decision approving Bulgaria’s position is expected to be adopted next week. The ministry specified that negotiations on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia are still ongoing.

In this context, the move met objections from Bulgaria, represented by Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who said the country would veto the 21st sanctions package if Patriarch Kirill and Vagit Alekperov were included in the list. Alekperov, the president of Lukoil, is expected to be added to the sanctions list targeting individuals as the owner of the company.

On June 18, before the European Council meeting in Brussels, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Sofia would not support the inclusion of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the European sanctions list.