Politics · World News Bureau
Ukraine protests EU delisting of Russian oligarchs close to Putin
The European Union's decision to remove two prominent Russian businessmen from its sanctions list has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv, which views the move as sending mixed signals to Moscow. Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, both with long-standing ties to President Vladimir Putin, were delisted after their assets were unfrozen.
LSN World News ·
Ukraine's government expressed dismay Wednesday over the European Union's removal of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions regime, warning that the decision undermines the international pressure campaign against Russia.
Kyiv officials noted that both businessmen maintain close connections to Putin and questioned the timing and rationale behind delisting them while the war in Ukraine continues. The move, which unfroze their assets in EU jurisdictions, was interpreted by Ukrainian officials as a weakening of resolve at a critical juncture in the conflict.
The EU's sanctions framework, initially imposed following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014 and subsequently expanded after the 2022 full-scale invasion, has targeted oligarchs deemed to have influence over Russian state policy. The delisting of these two figures marks a notable reversal in that approach.
Ukrainian officials raised concerns that removing sanctions on individuals with alleged influence over the Kremlin could encourage similar moves by other Western nations, potentially fracturing the unified sanctions regime that has been central to Western strategy. The development comes as diplomatic discussions continue over potential settlement terms for the conflict.