The EU has removed Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, despite opposition, as a compromise to extend sanctions on 3,000 individuals and entities linked to the Ukraine war for three years. The decision comes as the bloc faces a deadline to preserve the blacklist.
France and Luxembourg pushed for the removal of the two oligarchs, citing national security concerns and legal disputes, leading to a compromise that extended sanctions for 36 months. The move was controversial, with Ukraine criticizing it as a setback for sanctions against Russia.
The EU's decision to delist the two oligarchs, despite resistance, underscores the bloc's struggle to balance national interests with collective action. The extension of sanctions aims to provide stability, but the compromise highlights the challenges of maintaining unified policy among 27 member states.
Ukraine condemned the removal, calling it a betrayal of the sanctions framework, while EU officials emphasized the need for long-term stability in the sanctions regime.