Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged European Union countries to keep Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman under sanctions as diplomats negotiate the renewal of the bloc’s Russia-related restrictions.
The talks have become increasingly difficult in Brussels. EU sanctions covering thousands of Russia-linked individuals and entities require unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Without an agreement, the current measures face an expiration deadline.
Zelenskyy Calls for Continued Pressure on Moscow
Zelenskyy said the EU should maintain individual sanctions until Moscow enters serious peace negotiations and takes concrete steps toward ending the war in Ukraine.
He argued that Europe should strengthen economic pressure rather than remove sanctioned individuals while the conflict continues. He also thanked Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs for opposing a proposal that would remove Usmanov and Fridman from the list.
Zelenskyy made the comments while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His intervention comes as European diplomats try to resolve the dispute before the sanctions deadline.
EU Countries Remain Divided Over the Two Billionaires
According to diplomats cited by Reuters, France and Slovakia have pushed for Usmanov’s removal from the EU sanctions list. Luxembourg has also sought the removal of Fridman.
The proposed compromise would remove both billionaires while extending sanctions against roughly 3,000 other Russia-linked individuals and organizations for 36 months. That renewal period would be considerably longer than the EU’s usual six- or 12-month extensions.
However, Latvia has opposed the arrangement.
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said extending the wider sanctions for 36 months could be the right approach, but he rejected removing the two businessmen as the price for that agreement.
France and Luxembourg Push for Changes
The dispute over Usmanov has attracted particular attention because France recently joined Slovakia in calling for his removal.
Reuters reported that European diplomats linked France’s position to pressure from Azerbaijan, which is holding two French nationals. An Azerbaijani official rejected that explanation. France has described its position as a national security matter.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg has argued that its position on Fridman could become harder to defend if Usmanov leaves the sanctions list.
Fridman has also challenged the sanctions through legal action. He is seeking $16 billion from Luxembourg in an arbitration case over frozen assets, according to Reuters.
Sanctions Could Affect Thousands of Russia-Linked Figures
The broader EU measures include asset freezes and travel restrictions. The bloc imposed the sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Usmanov and Fridman have both disputed the grounds for the sanctions and have taken legal steps to challenge them.
At the same time, several EU countries continue to argue that the restrictions should remain in place while Russia’s war continues.
Brussels Faces a Deadline
EU ambassadors have continued negotiations in an effort to reach a compromise. Latvia and France remain on opposing sides of the dispute, while other member states face pressure to preserve the broader sanctions framework.
The outcome could determine whether the EU renews the wider Russia sanctions package and whether Usmanov and Fridman remain subject to individual restrictions.
For Ukraine, the issue carries a broader message. Zelenskyy has argued that keeping pressure on people linked to Russia’s political and economic system remains important while European governments pursue a possible path toward peace.
