The European Union removed Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, despite their close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decision comes as the EU extends sanctions on 3,000 individuals and entities for three years.
Usmanov, a Uzbek-born metals and telecom magnate, and Fridman, a founder of Alfa Group, were both removed from the sanctions list. France and Luxembourg sought their removal, citing national security concerns and legal disputes over frozen assets.
Ukraine condemned the move as 'unacceptable', warning it sends a wrong signal to Moscow. The EU's decision to delist the two oligarchs follows a compromise to extend sanctions for three years, avoiding further disputes.
Ukraine has called on EU countries to impose national sanctions on the two individuals, while Latvia initially opposed the decision but later abstained in a compromise.