The European Union has prolonged its sanctions regime targeting those responsible for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity for another 36 months, until 22 September 2029 — but the deal came at a price that has infuriated Kyiv and Russian opposition figures alike.
The Council decided not to renew the listings of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, two of Russia’s wealthiest businessmen. The decision also removed three deceased persons and one entity from the list.
Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek metals and telecoms magnate, was pushed for delisting by France, which reportedly linked the request to a potential prisoner-release deal involving French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. Fridman, a Russian-Israeli banking tycoon whose assets in Luxembourg were frozen, was backed amid his €15 billion arbitration claim against the state.
Opposition Reaction: ‘A Dangerous Precedent’
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and other Russian opposition figures condemned the delisting as a betrayal of sanctions logic.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the delisting “shameful and unjustifiable,” writing on X that Usmanov and Fridman “are part of Russia’s aggressive regime” and that “nothing has changed” to warrant their removal .
EU Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine
The Council stressed that the extension “reaffirms the EU’s continued firm and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity” . The sanctions currently apply to over 3,000 individuals and entities, including asset freezes, travel bans, and prohibitions on making funds available.
The three-year renewal — far longer than the usual six-month cycle — was designed to prevent further political crises over the sanctions’ renewal.
