Ukrainian foreign minister urges EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has commented on the situation surrounding the extension of European sanctions against Russians responsible for violating Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter) on the evening of 14 September, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states in Brussels has extended the sanctions regime concerning violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty for seven days, as Slovakia and France continue to insist that two Russian oligarchs, Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, be removed from the list.
"Putin's inner circle and the enablers of Russia's aggression must remain on the sanctions list," Sybiha said.
He noted that lifting sanctions against key Russian oligarchs linked to the regime, such as Usmanov and Fridman, is "difficult to understand – especially as Russia intensifies its terror against our people and its targeted campaign to destroy Ukraine's economy".
"Personal sanctions are an effective tool to constrain, one by one, those who sustain Russia's war machine. These individuals must be named and held accountable," Sybiha stressed.
He emphasised that extending individual sanctions for 12 months instead of the current six "would send a clear signal to the Kremlin that Europe is not intimidated by Russia's reckless escalation".
"Sanctions only work when they deliver long-term, sustained and irreversible pressure for as long as Russia continues its aggression. Otherwise, Europe risks playing exactly the game Russia wants it to play," he added.
Background:
- It was reported earlier that EU ambassadors once again were unable to agree on extending personal sanctions over Russian aggression on 11 September, due to demands from Slovakia and France for changes to the lists of individuals under personal sanctions.
- The last extension of personal sanctions took place on 14 March. On that occasion too, Slovakia pushed until the very last minute for Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the list.
- On 12 September, European Pravda sources in French diplomatic circles explained why Paris wants sanctions lifted on Usmanov.
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