The European Union has reached a contentious compromise to delist two Russian billionaires from its sanctions list, despite widespread opposition among member states, as it extended broader restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Ukraine’s war for another three years. The move came as the bloc faced a tight deadline to maintain its Russia-related blacklist, with unanimous approval required for any changes. Critics argue the decision weakens the EU’s stance, while supporters frame it as a necessary concession to preserve broader sanctions. The outcome reflects deep divisions over how strictly to enforce economic measures against Moscow.
Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman delisted in what Ireland’s EU presidency calls ‘a difficult compromise’ for the blocThe EU has agreed to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies accused of supporting the war on Ukraine for the next three years.With an end-of-Tuesday deadline looming to preserve the Russia blacklist, the EU’s 27 member states found a compromise that meant delisting the two oligarchs in spite of very few countries wanting this outcome. EU sanctions have to be approved unanimously. Continue reading...
