Sibiga criticized the lifting of sanctions against Usmanov and Friedman
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga criticized the EU’s decision to remove Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman from the sanctions list. He called the decision shameful and urged EU countries to impose their own national sanctions against them.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga reacted to the European Union’s decision to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Friedman from the sanctions list. Sybiga called the EU’s decision “shameful and unjustified.” “The decision to remove Usmanov and Friedman from the sanctions list is shameful and unjustified,” wrote the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
According to Sibiga, the removal of the two Russian businessmen from the sanctions list has already become a cause for celebration in Moscow. “Moscow is celebrating because it has gotten what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans,” the minister stated.
At the same time, Sibiga called on EU countries not to limit themselves to Brussels’ joint decision. He proposed that each country individually impose its own sanctions against Usmanov and Friedman. “I call on all EU member states to immediately announce the imposition of their own national sanctions against these two individuals,” Sibiga wrote.
What the EU Decided
The decision regarding Usmanov and Friedman was part of a broader agreement among EU countries to extend personal sanctions against Russia. The European Union extended the restrictions for another 36 months—until September 22, 2029. In total, the sanctions apply to approximately 3,000 Russian individuals and entities. At the same time, Usmanov and Friedman were removed from this list. It was precisely this issue that had been the subject of disputes among EU countries in the days leading up to the decision.
Earlier, diplomatic sources reported that a compromise proposal called for removing the two Russian businessmen from the list in exchange for extending the entire sanctions regime by three years. Latvia opposed this approach. The country’s Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs, stated that Riga would not agree to extend the sanctions at the cost of removing two individuals from the list. Ultimately, EU countries agreed to extend the restrictions, but Usmanov and Friedman are no longer on the sanctions list.
Why the decision sparked controversy
EU sanctions against Russian citizens and companies were imposed after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among the main restrictions are the freezing of assets and a ban on entry into EU countries for individuals who remain on the list. The decision to extend individual sanctions requires the consent of all EU member states. That is why the controversy surrounding the two businessmen could have affected the entire sanctions package.
Earlier, Sibiga had already urged Brussels not to remove Usmanov and Friedman from the list. On September 21, he stated that the reasons for their inclusion on the sanctions list had not gone away. “What has changed? Nothing,” the foreign minister wrote at the time, urging that sanctions pressure on Russia not be eased. Now, following the EU’s final decision, the Ukrainian side is calling on individual EU member states to act independently.
What Ukraine Is Proposing
Sybiga believes that EU countries can impose their own national restrictions against Usmanov and Friedman, even despite their removal from the EU’s joint sanctions list. Thus, Ukraine is proposing that individual member states maintain restrictions against the two Russian businessmen at the national level. At the same time, the EU has kept sanctions in place against thousands of other Russian individuals and entities. The restrictions were extended for three years—until September 2029.
Sybiga emphasizes, however, that Kyiv opposes the removal of Usmanov and Friedman from the sanctions list and believes that pressure on Russia must be maintained. The EU’s decision became one of the most contentious issues during the extension of the targeted sanctions. Ukraine has already publicly stated its disagreement and called on European countries to impose their own restrictions against the two Russian businessmen. He made his position public on the social media platform X.
Ukraine has proposed that Russia agree to cease strikes on energy facilities. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv is prepared to refrain from attacking Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure if Moscow also stops striking the Ukrainian power grid. According to the president, the U.S. should convey this proposal to the Russian side.
