In brief
The EU announced the removal of sanctions on two Russian oligarchs linked to President Putin – billionaire Alisher Usmanov and businessman Mikhail Fridman – a decision that has enraged Ukrainian officials and critics. France and Luxembourg pushed for the delisting citing national‑security concerns, while Latvia initially blocked the move, later compromising by extending sanctions on thousands of other entities for three years. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister slammed the decision as a win for Moscow, urging member states to impose their own national sanctions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the delisting, claiming all Russians should be treated the same. The move underscores deep divisions within the EU and the broader geopolitical struggle surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine.
EU removes sanctions on Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman
The European Union announced yesterday that it will remove sanctions imposed in 2022 on two key Russian oligarchs, an act that has inflamed Ukrainian officials and critics alike. The individuals targeted were Alisher Usmanov, a businessman with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, and Mikhail Fridman, a Russian‑Israeli financier and founder of the Alfa Group empire.
France had campaigned for Usmanov’s delisting, citing national‑security concerns, while Luxembourg advocated for Fridman’s removal. Their arguments were supported by links to a prospective prisoner‑release deal with Azerbaijan and broader European cooperation.
Latvia, which initially opposed the decision, ultimately voted to abstain after a compromise was proposed. Under the new arrangement, sanctions on roughly 2,600 remaining individuals and entities will be extended for a three‑year period – a step-up from the typical six‑month renewal.
The moves have drawn sharp condemnation from Ukraine’s foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha accused the EU action of gifting Moscow with “a sense of impunity” and heightening divisions among European states. He called for each member to enact national sanctions against the businessmen instead.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the delisting, arguing the sanctions were illegal and claiming all Russians should be treated equally. The announcement has thus intensified the diplomatic standoff between the West and Russia.
Key background: Usmanov, a former leading figure in Russia’s steel and telecom sectors, was described by the EU as a “pro‑Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to President Vladimir Putin” when his assets were frozen. Fridman, meanwhile, has been labelled a strategic financier in support of Putin’s inner circle.
The EU’s decision illustrates how diverging national interests and geopolitical realities strain collective policy efforts, as European countries grapple with balancing sanctions enforcement against broader strategic alliances.
Citation: Reuters
