After Bulgaria, and Italy also expresses concern about the EU proposal to sanction the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, supporter of the war in Ukraine.

Italy has joined Bulgaria in expressing concerns regarding the European Union's plans to impose sanctions on Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, an ally of Vladimir Putin, who has justified the invasion of Ukraine. The proposal, part of the EU's 21st sanctions package, includes a travel ban for Kirill, but has faced objections from Bulgaria, which has a significant Orthodox population, and reservations from Italy, which fears the impact on relations with the Vatican.

Additionally, EU diplomats are discussing tightening the price cap on Russian oil, a measure contested by Greece, Malta, and Cyprus, which rely on maritime transport. Italy and France also express concern over the proposal to ban the entry into the EU of former Russian combatants. The sanctions package targets Russia's military-industrial and financial sectors, aiming to impact its economy in the context of the war in Ukraine.