FP: Bulgaria's New Decision Was A Painful Blow To The Kremlin's Plans
- 18.01.2026, 15:14
Moscow lost yet another country it considered "its own".
On January 1, Bulgaria officially switched to the euro, finally cementing its course toward the EU. For Moscow, this was a major geopolitical defeat: attempts to keep Sofia within Russia's zone of influence failed despite years of pressure, propaganda and covert operations.
Euro instead of ruble dependence
As Foreign Policy writes, Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone was a strategic defeat for Russia. The Kremlin viewed the country as part of its sphere of influence and for years tried to stall its European integration through energy dependence, political pressure and information campaigns. On January 1, however, Bulgaria officially abandoned its national currency and became the 21st country in the eurozone. This move made it economically and politically much less vulnerable to Russian influence.
The failure of the Kremlin's tactics
Moscow actively tried to prevent this process. It used disinformation campaigns about the "collapse of the economy" after the euro, intimidation about rising prices and loss of sovereignty, support for pro-Russian parties and protests, and attempts to sway public discontent.
A special role was played by the Renaissance party, which is openly oriented toward the Kremlin. Its supporters organized rallies, attacked the EU representation and promoted myths about the "dictatorship of Brussels". None of this has worked, however.
Why is this a blow to Russia?
The Kremlin has long seen eurozone expansion as a threat: countries that use the euro are harder to blackmail, buy or sway from within. Losing Bulgaria would mean a reduction in Russian influence in the Balkans and another step toward Moscow's complete isolation in Europe.
Foreign Policy notes that Russia had hoped to delay the process or derail it altogether, but instead it got the opposite effect: Bulgaria was finally integrated into the European system.
What's next?
Experts believe that Moscow will try to increase pressure ahead of future elections in Bulgaria, using rising prices and domestic difficulties as an excuse for new attacks. But strategically, the moment has already been lost. Russia's influence in Europe continues to shrink.