Patriarch Kirill and Lukoil's CEO, Vagit Alekperov, will not be included in the next EU sanctions package.

Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church and supporter of President Vladimir Putin, was to be included in the next sanctions package imposed by the European Union on Russia, due to his constant justification of the war in Ukraine. However, in the most recent sanctions draft, Kirill no longer appears on the list of 42 targeted individuals.

This decision was influenced by the opposition of the Hungarian government, which argued that the EU should not target religious figures. Following the dismissal of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Bulgaria also raised similar objections, having a more Russia-friendly Prime Minister.

The exclusion of Kirill and Vagit Alekperov, the founder of Lukoil, was motivated by economic interests, particularly in Bulgaria.

Other measures in the sanctions package were softened, including restrictions on fish imports from Russia and the capping of Russian oil prices.