Bulgaria’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, has already begun to differentiate himself on the European stage. During his debut at the European Council summit, Radev adopted a more assertive stance, reminiscent of his predecessor’s approach. Specifically, he indicated potential disagreement with the continuation of European Union sanctions imposed on Russia. This signals a possible shift in Bulgaria’s foreign policy regarding Moscow. Radev’s initial statements suggest he may advocate for a reassessment of the sanctions’ effectiveness and impact. This position places Bulgaria potentially at odds with other EU member states who strongly support maintaining the current sanctions regime. The move is being closely watched for its implications on EU unity concerning Russia.