EU Lifts Sanctions on Two Russian Billionaires, Extends Others for Three Years

The European Union has agreed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 other individuals and companies linked to Russia's war in Ukraine for another three years, according to France 24.

The decision followed what were described as difficult negotiations among member states, reflecting the fact that EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 countries in the bloc. Reaching agreement on sanctions packages, including renewals and adjustments, has periodically proven contentious given differing national interests among member states.

The move to delist Usmanov and Fridman marks a notable shift, as both businessmen had been prominent targets of EU sanctions imposed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. The report did not specify the reasoning behind their removal from the list.

The broader extension of sanctions on nearly 3,000 other individuals and entities underscores the EU's continued effort to maintain pressure on Russia over the war, even as certain elements of its sanctions regime are periodically reviewed and adjusted.

Further details on the scope of the renewed restrictions, and on any conditions attached to the removal of Usmanov and Fridman from the list, were not immediately available.