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EU drops sanctions for Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman
DW.com • • general
Key Points:
- The European Union agreed to extend sanctions on around 3,000 Russian individuals and entities for 36 months until September 22, 2029, but lifted sanctions on oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman following lengthy negotiations.
- Ukraine condemned the removal of Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list, calling it "shameful and unjustifiable," and urged EU countries to impose national sanctions on the two oligarchs.
- France and Luxembourg pushed for the exemptions, with France citing national security concerns possibly linked to a prisoner release deal, and Luxembourg acting amid Fridman's €15 billion lawsuit over frozen assets.
- Usmanov and Fridman are among Russia's wealthiest oligarchs with close ties to Vladimir Putin, owning major businesses in metals, telecom, banking, and investment sectors.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for efforts to add more Russian names to the sanctions list despite criticizing the concessions made.
