The European Union is once again showing its weakness on the global stage, moving to remove sanctions on two prominent Russian oligarchs previously targeted for their close ties to Vladimir Putin. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, the bloc has buckled under pressure from France and Luxembourg to grant relief to Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
This decision is a slap in the face to the Ukrainian people, who are fighting for their sovereignty while European bureaucrats prioritize diplomatic maneuvering and backroom deals. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha rightly slammed the move, noting that it grants Moscow a sense of impunity and highlights the dangerous divisions within the EU.
While France championed the removal of Usmanov—reportedly linked to a prisoner release deal with Azerbaijan—and Luxembourg pushed for Fridman, the move has left the EU looking fractured and indecisive.
Latvia, which initially stood firm against the deal, eventually folded into an abstention after securing promises regarding military cooperation and a longer, three-year extension of sanctions on other individuals. The Kremlin, predictably, is celebrating the move as a victory, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling the original sanctions illegal.
By easing pressure on these key financiers of the Russian elite, the EU has sent a message of hesitation exactly when strength and resolve are required.
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