Economy
EU Removes Two Russian Oligarchs from Sanctions List Amidst Escalation Concerns
Despite Vladimir Putin’s ongoing hybrid attacks on European countries, the EU has removed two oligarchs close to the Russian president, Alisher Usmanov and Michail Friedman, from its sanctions list following initiatives by France and Luxembourg. This decision, reached after difficult negotiations just before the deadline, sparked anger from Baltic states and Ukrainian President Zelensky, who argued pressure on the Kremlin should increase. France sought Usmanov’s removal to secure the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan, while Luxembourg wanted Friedman removed due to a 14 billion euro legal dispute over sanction-related losses. In exchange, EU sanctions against Russians will now be extended for three years instead of six months to prevent individual nations from blocking measures for national interests. Critics argue this compromise undermines the effectiveness of sanctions as member states prioritize domestic concerns.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's