PM Petkov in an interview with Reuters: Bulgaria supports sanctions, but will likely seek exception for import of Russian gas

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, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said in an interview with Reuters on Monday, March 7.

"We are fully supporting the Ukrainian people, we supported the first package of sanctions, we are even open-minded for other sanctions as well, just these two sanctions, it would be very hard for us to take as an economy and as a country," he said.

Bulgaria will also start buying 1.5 million tonnes of wheat to avoid risks that may arise from the war.

Bulgaria’s coalition government will also start buying 1.5 million tonnes of wheat to shore up its food supply until next year's harvest and avoid risks that may arise from any possible accidents at nuclear power plants in Ukraine, the PM explained.

Petkov added that the state would also bolster its reserves of corn and sunflower seeds.

In the interview, Petkov also says that Bulgaria is sticking for the time being with its target of joining the euro zone as of January 2024.