Bulgaria may veto sanctions against Russia's nuclear power industry — Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the EU summit

"Bulgaria cannot accept sanctions against nuclear energy [of Russia - ed. note] because it will directly affect our nuclear energy. This is forbidden. We are considering all areas where further sanctions are possible. But we are watching very closely the issues where our interests are at stake, like nuclear energy," Radev said.

Answering the question of whether Bulgaria would veto sanctions on nuclear energy, he said it would if necessary.

Mr Radev also called on the EU to use all its tools to bring back talks about ending the war and achieving peace through diplomatic efforts.

"It's time, a year after the beginning of this bloody war, to focus mainly on measures to end it and to resume all diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution. It is a bloody war, and we hear fewer and fewer calls for peace. We hear only the voice of weapons. We hear only calls for victory, although no one can define what victory means," the Bulgarian President said.

He noted his country would continue to help Ukrainian refugees "to the best of its ability".