Bulgaria, Country to seek exception to any EU sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said that Bulgaria supports sanctions on Russia as a means to halting its invasion of Ukraine, but will likely seek an exception on banning Russian natural gas and oil imports if such a proposal is put forward.

EU and NATO member Bulgaria is almost completely dependent on gas supplies from Russian Gazprom, while its only oil refinery, owned by Russian Lukoil, provides over 60 % of the fuel used in the country.

PM Petkov said that Bulgaria would support all kinds of measures, because we are really against the war, but for oil and gas will likely seek for an exception. Currently, Bulgaria has alternatives for Russian oil and gas. It is fully supporting the Ukrainian people, it supported the first package of sanctions, it is even open-minded for other sanctions as well, but energy sanction would be very hard for Bulgarian economy to cope.

He added that Bulgaria is working to diversify its natural gas supplies and is in talks to import bigger quantities of Azeri gas while examining options for liquefied natural gas supplied through Greek ports.