UK PM informs Zelenskyy he will maintain sanctions against Russian oligarchs – Bloomberg

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he disagrees with the European Union's decision to lift sanctions against Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.

Source: European Pravda, citing sources familiar with the situation quoted by Bloomberg

Details: According to these sources, Burnham made these comments during a meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

The UK prime minister also informed Zelenskyy that the United Kingdom will not lift sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman, sources noted. He stated that Ukraine's allies should continue to maintain their sanctions to exert pressure on Russia to end the war.

A Downing Street statement on Burnham's meeting with Zelenskyy made no mention of the EU decision but noted that the prime minister spoke about the "need to keep increasing pressure on Russia through sanctions to ensure he came to the table".

This criticism points to a rare rift between the UK and the EU over sanctions against Russia, which had largely been aligned since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Both Fridman and Usmanov had interests in the UK. Usmanov is best known internationally for his investments in London's Arsenal football club, which he exited in 2018. Fridman moved to London in 2013 but left the country after sanctions were imposed against him.

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 two Russian oligarchs from the list.

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