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The EU has agreed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine for another three years. The decision came after difficult negotiations, as EU sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Caroline Baum reports.
France and Luxembourg were behind the sanctions exemptions for Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, a move that Kyiv labeled "shameful and unjustifiable."
Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman both have close ties to President Putin, and Kyiv said the move sent Moscow the wrong signals.
The community club will unfreeze the assets of the Alisher Usmanov and Mijail Fridman magnate, linked to the Dia supermarkets
EU countries failed Monday to finalise a deal that involved lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, Multiple diplomats said earlier that member states had reached a provisional agreement to take the pair off the EU's blacklist as part of a compromise to extend sanctions on almost 3,000 other individuals and entities over the Ukraine war. France 24's Dave Keating has more from Brussels.
EU countries failed Monday to reach a final deal that would remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc's sanctions list, with diplomats set to resume talks Tuesday.
