Zelenskyy calls on EU to sanction Usmanov and Fridman: Russian oligarchs should not be treated as friends

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the European Union to increase sanctions pressure on Russian businesses, including by imposing sanctions on Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Details: Zelenskyy noted that since the morning of 12 September, Russia had launched almost 500 strike drones against Ukraine.

"Essentially, the Russians have expanded this war from the front lines, where they cannot achieve success, into the economy, and their tactics are as primitive as they get – destroying every facility that can help people withstand the conditions of war," he added.

Quote: "Russian businesses that pay taxes into the war budget, and Russian oligarchs without whom Putin's system is impossible to imagine, must feel that there is no place in the world where they can live in peace and quiet for as long as this war continues.

When the Ukrainian economy is simply a target for Russia, this is certainly not the time for Europe to treat Russian oligarchs as friends. When Russia uses every euro and dollar to prolong the war, it is both immoral and suicidal to give Russian businesses opportunities to live their lives without feeling the consequences of the war."

Details: Zelenskyy said "Usmanov and Fridman are exactly the kind of Russian business figures who need to find the courage to take concrete steps against the war".

Quote: "With 500 Shaheds a day, this is certainly not the time to even begin the discussion about easing sanctions – especially sanctions against individuals about whom no one can say how exactly they have helped protect lives and reduce Putin's ability to continue the war.

We need to keep up comprehensive pressure on Russia for its war. Strengthen sanctions against Russia instead of weakening Ukraine!"

Background:

• On 11 September, EU ambassadors once again failed to agree on extending personal sanctions over Russia's aggression because of Slovakia and France's demands to change the list of sanctioned individuals.
• The deadline for extending these sanctions is 15 September.
• The restrictive measures targeting individuals were last extended on 14 March. On that occasion Slovakia also pushed until the last minute for Fridman and Usmanov to be removed from the list.

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