THE Bulgaria supports sanctions on Russia as a means to end the invasion of Ukrainebut will most likely seek to be exempted from the ban on gas and oil imports if such a proposal is submitted by the European Union, said today the Prime Minister of the country, Kirill Petkov.
Bulgaria, a member of the EU and NATO, is almost entirely dependent on gas supplies from Russia’s Gazprom, while its only oil refinery, owned by Russia’s LUKOIL, supplies more than 60% of the country’s fuel.
Washington is ready to ban Russian oil imports to the United States without the involvement of allies in Europe, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Germany, the largest buyer of Russian crude, has rejected plans to ban energy imports, a stance backed by Petkov.
“Bulgaria would support any measures, because we are really against the war, but for these two (oil and gas), we might ask for an exception. “We have no current alternatives now, we are very dependent,” Petkov said.
“We fully support the Ukrainian people, we have supported the first package of sanctions, we are open to other sanctions, but these two would be very difficult for us to accept as an economy and as a country,” he said.
The coalition government will also start buying 1.5 million tonnes of wheat to boost its reserves until next year ‘s harvest and avoid the risks that could arise from possible accidents at nuclear power plants in Ukraine.
However, Bulgaria does not intend to ban wheat exports, he added, but will also increase its stocks of corn and sunflower seeds.
Source: News Beast
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