Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Prime Minister: Bulgaria has a month to decide how to proceed after US sanctions on Lukoil

Photo: BGNES
Bulgaria has until 21 November to decide how to proceed with the Lukoil Neftochim refinery, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Thursday ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

He was apparently referring to the end of a US Treasury “wind-down” period under the latest sanctions on Russian energy majors Lukoil and Rosneft, announced earlier this week. The measures, which include asset freezes and transaction bans, come fully into force on 21 November 2025 after a short transition phase allowing companies to complete existing deals.

Zhelyazkov said the US restrictions would not affect domestic fuel production or supply, as the Burgas refinery no longer processes Russian crude. However, he acknowledged that Lukoil’s Russian ownership could create difficulties with financial transactions and access to the SWIFT system, the network used for international payments, once the sanctions take effect.

Asked about the risk of the refinery being targeted by arson attacks – as has happened at energy sites in Romania, Hungary and Slovakia – the prime minister said the authorities had taken all necessary precautions against possible sabotage, according to BNR’s Brussels correspondent Angelina Piskova.

“The issue with Lukoil is serious and very delicate,” said GERB leader Boyko Borissov in parliament, adding that the party was ready to take legislative action if required, BGNES reported.



Editor: Ivo Ivanov

Posted and edited in English by E. Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Employment in Bulgaria is among the highest in the EU, but over 1 million people are unemployed

As of December 31, 2024, there were 3,765,000 people of working age, or 58.5% of the country's population. Men are 1,970,000, and women - 1,795,000. This was announced by the Deputy Chair of the National Statistical Institute (NSI)..

published on 10/22/25 10:46 AM

President Radev thanks South Africa for lifting short-term visas for Bulgarians

President Rumen Radev has sent a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa expressing his gratitude for the decision of the Republic of South Africa to lift visa requirements for short-term stays for Bulgarian citizens. Radev..

published on 10/22/25 10:23 AM

GERB-SDS and DPS-New Beginning agree on full cabinet mandate

At a meeting in parliament in the presence of the party leaderships, the GERB-SDS coalition and the DPS-New Beginning party agreed on a full mandate to govern and fulfil the commitments for Bulgaria’s Euro-Atlantic orientation. This..

published on 10/22/25 9:53 AM