Why did the EU remove two Russian billionaires from its sanctions list? | DW News

The European Union’s decision to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions blacklist highlights deep fractures in European unity. France and Luxembourg leveraged the threat of allowing the entire sanctions regime against 2,600 individuals to expire to secure these specific concessions. France’s move was linked to the release of a French national detained in Azerbaijan, while Luxembourg sought to mitigate legal risks from Fridman’s multi-billion euro lawsuit. While experts like Dr. Domitilla Sagramoso note that these oligarchs are not part of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, their continued financial contributions remain vital to the Kremlin’s war effort. Although the compromise ensures the broader sanctions list remains in force for an extended three-year period, the episode demonstrates how external actors can manipulate internal EU divisions, undermining the bloc's collective stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.