Ukraine reacted to the lifting of EU sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman
Ukraine considers the European Union’s decision not to extend sanctions against Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman “strange.” Kyiv is preparing new sanctions proposals against Russian oligarchs linked to the military-industrial complex.
This was stated by the Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy of Ukraine, Vladyslav Vlasyuk, in a comment to Suspilny.
According to him, the Ukrainian side does not see any changes in circumstances that could explain the lifting of restrictions on Usmanov and Fridman.
“We find the EU’s decision not to extend sanctions against Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman very strange. Russia continues the war, and their ties with the Kremlin, which were among the grounds for the sanctions, have not disappeared,” Vlasyuk said.
He noted that such a decision is in particular contrast to the increased sanctions pressure on Russia by the United States.
According to Vlasyuk, Moscow is trying to split the unity of the European Union, so the lifting of restrictions on individual Russian businessmen should not become a widespread practice.
“That is why we will propose new sanctions solutions, in particular regarding Russian oligarchs associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, who are not yet under sanctions. Now it is important to focus on increasing sanctions pressure on Russia,” he stressed.
At the same time, the presidential envoy positively assessed the EU’s decision to extend personal sanctions against individuals and organizations responsible for undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine for another 36 months – until September 22, 2029 .
According to the Council of the EU, more than 3,000 individuals and legal entities are subject to these restrictions. The sanctions include an asset freeze, a ban on the provision of funds and economic resources, and for individuals, travel restrictions.
As a reminder, the day before it became known that the EU will lift sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman as part of a compromise on extending personal restrictions against Russia for three years. Usmanov’s exclusion was supported by Slovakia and France, and Fridman’s by Slovakia and Luxembourg.
Latvia previously opposed the removal of Usmanov and Fridman from the sanctions list , stating that the extension of restrictions should not come at the cost of lifting sanctions on the two Russian billionaires.
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