EU diplomats agree to lift sanctions on two Russian oligarchs as part of broader renewal

European Union diplomats have reached an agreement to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc's sanctions list. This decision was part of a larger compromise that extends sanctions against approximately 3,000 other individuals and entities for a period of three years, significantly longer than the typical six- or 12-month renewal cycles.

France had pushed for the delisting of Usmanov, citing national security concerns, with reports suggesting this was linked to pressure from Azerbaijan regarding the detention of French citizens. Luxembourg had separately requested the removal of Fridman. While the proposal faced initial resistance, particularly from Latvia, which argued against weakening sanctions as a bargaining chip, the measure was ultimately approved to secure the long-term renewal of the broader sanctions framework.

The Ukrainian government, led by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, condemned the decision as unacceptable, arguing that it sends the wrong message to Moscow while the conflict continues. Ukrainian officials maintain that the individuals remain connected to the Russian regime, and they urged the EU to intensify rather than diminish pressure.