Why Italy and Bulgaria Blocked the EU Visa Ban on Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill

Italy joined Bulgaria in opposing the visa ban. Three EU diplomats reported to Politico that Italy had submitted a diplomatic "reservation"—language for a concern short of a full veto . While Italy's exact reasoning was less publicly detailed by officials, multiple EU diplomatic sources indicated Italy feared the move would needlessly escalate tensions with the broader Orthodox world and could be seen as the West targeting a major global religious institution . Italy also had a separate objection to another measure in the package: along with France, it opposed the proposed entry ban on former Russian military personnel, with sources saying Rome and Paris were "not convinced" by that proposal .

What else was in the 21st sanctions package

The package, proposed on June 9, 2026, was described as the most comprehensive since the war began . Key measures included:

• Nearly 90 Russian banks sanctioned
• 11 cryptocurrency platforms targeted for sanctions evasion
• Drone manufacturers added to the blacklist
• ~30 shadow fleet vessels designated
• First-ever restrictions on Russian fish imports (notably cod—one friction point was nicknamed "cod, oil, and Kirill")
• Expanded export bans on metals and alloys
• A proposed entry ban on former Russian military personnel (separately opposed by Italy and France)
• A temporary freeze of the Russian oil price cap at $44.10/barrel

How Hungary's election made the package possible

For four years, Viktor Orbán's Hungary repeatedly blocked or vetoed EU sanctions packages, often citing energy security concerns . That changed when Péter Magyar's Tisza Party won the April 12, 2026 Hungarian election with approximately 138 of 199 seats, ending Orbán's 16-year tenure . By April 23, 2026, the new government quietly lifted Hungary's long-standing vetoes on Russia sanctions, allowing the 21st package to move forward .

The July 15 deadline and the $44.10 oil price cap

The urgency to finalize the 21st package by mid-July was driven by a scheduled July 15 review of the G7/EU price cap on Russian crude oil .

The EU had adopted a dynamic pricing mechanism that automatically adjusts the cap every six months to 15% below the market average . The cap stood at $44.10 per barrel, set via this mechanism on January 15, 2026 . By mid-2026, surging global crude prices—partly due to the Strait of Hormuz closure—meant the formula would automatically raise the cap on July 15, effectively giving Russia a revenue windfall . The European Commission proposed freezing the cap at $44.10 for six months to prevent that increase. Because this amends existing sanctions law, it required unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states .

This made the entire 21st sanctions package time-sensitive: if EU members couldn't reach unanimity by July 15, the cap would rise automatically, weakening financial pressure on Moscow .