Zelenskyy calls lifting of sanctions on some Russian oligarchs "self-defeating"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the signals given out by the lifting of sanctions on two Russian oligarchs appear "self-destructive and counterproductive". His comments came following a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New York on 22 September.
Source: European Pravda citing Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Details: Zelenskyy said he had discussed the sanctions with von der Leyen.
Quote: "At a time when Russia is carrying out brutal attacks on our people – and even now, during the UN General Assembly, air raid alerts are ongoing in many regions because of drones and ballistic missiles – signals about lifting sanctions on individual Russian oligarchs are self-defeating and counterproductive."
More details: Wars, he added, are ended through resolve and strength, not by making concessions to those close to the aggressor.
Zelenskyy thanked von der Leyen for her willingness to work on adding more Russian names to the EU sanctions lists.
The president and von der Leyen also discussed how to ensure Ukraine's financial resilience this year and next.
Background:
- The Council of the EU adopted a final decision on 22 September to extend sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for undermining or threatening Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence for a further 36 months. However, it has removed Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called the EU's decision to remove Usmanov and Fridman from its sanctions list "shameful and unjustifiable".
- Latvia has said it will impose national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman after making concessions and lifting its veto on their removal from the EU sanctions list.
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