In a move that quietly reshapes the moral geography of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has lifted sanctions against Alisher Usmanov — a billionaire once named by EU officials themselves as among Vladimir Putin's closest oligarchs. The decision, reportedly driven by France, signals that the unified Western front of financial pressure against Russia's elite is no longer as solid as it once appeared. Ukraine, which has staked much of its strategic leverage on the durability of that pressure, has objected openly — a reminder that alliances forged in crisis are tested most severely not by en
E.U. lifts sanctions on Putin-linked oligarchs despite Ukraine's objections
The consensus that held Europe together on Russia is fracturing
Mark
Why would the EU lift sanctions on someone they explicitly called one of Putin's favorite oligarchs? That seems like a direct reversal.
Mimi
It does. The characterization was their own assessment of his ties to the Kremlin. Lifting the sanctions suggests that calculation has changed—or at least, that some major EU members think the cost of maintaining them outweighs the benefit.
Luke
But we don't actually know the reasoning yet, do we? The reporting says France pushed for it, but not why. That's a crucial gap.
Mimi
True. It could be economic pressure, energy negotiations, or something else entirely. The point is that this wasn't forced by circumstance—it's a choice.
Mark
And Ukraine is objecting. How serious is that objection?
Mimi
Serious enough to make public. Kyiv sees this as the EU weakening its own pressure on Russia at a moment when Ukraine needs that pressure to remain constant.
Luke
The reporting doesn't tell us whether other EU members agreed with France or if this was contentious internally. That matters for understanding whether this is a one-off or a trend.
Mark
So we're watching to see if more sanctions get lifted?
Mimi
Exactly. If this is the beginning of a broader recalibration, it changes the entire strategic picture for Ukraine.
Luke
And we should note: the reporting confirms Usmanov's ties to Putin, confirms the EU's previous position, confirms Ukraine's objection. What it doesn't confirm is the EU's reasoning or whether this decision was unanimous.
Mark
Which means the story isn't finished.
Mimi
Not even close.
Der Puls
- The EU has reversed sanctions on Usmanov — a man its own officials once called one of Putin's favorite oligarchs — without any apparent change in his conduct or circumstances.
- France is identified as the driving force behind the move, exposing fractures within the bloc over how long and how hard to press Russia's financial elite.
- A second oligarch's sanctions were also lifted, suggesting this is not an isolated exception but the early shape of a broader policy recalibration.
- Ukraine has publicly condemned the decision, warning that loosening the sanctions regime undermines the very leverage Kyiv depends on to survive the war.
- The reversal lands at a moment of compounding European fatigue — energy costs, economic strain, and the long horizon of confrontation with Russia are quietly reordering priorities in European capitals.
In a move that quietly reshapes the moral geography of the war in Ukraine, the European Union has lifted sanctions against Alisher Usmanov — a billionaire once named by EU officials themselves as among Vladimir Putin's closest oligarchs. The decision, reportedly driven by France, signals that the unified Western front of financial pressure against Russia's elite is no longer as solid as it once appeared. Ukraine, which has staked much of its strategic leverage on the durability of that pressure, has objected openly — a reminder that alliances forged in crisis are tested most severely not by enemies, but by the quiet recalculations of friends.
The European Union has removed sanctions against Alisher Usmanov, a billionaire whose name had become shorthand for the entanglement of Russian wealth and Kremlin power. The EU's own officials had previously described him as one of Putin's favored oligarchs, and the sanctions imposed against him were designed to cut him off from European markets and freeze his assets — part of a coordinated strategy to make Russia's elite pay a price for enabling the war.
The decision to lift those measures did not follow any visible change in Usmanov's behavior. Instead, it appears to reflect a shift in political will within Europe itself. France has been identified as the principal force behind the move, indicating that at least one major member state has concluded that sustaining these particular sanctions no longer aligns with its interests. The reasoning remains largely unexplained, but the signal is unmistakable: some European capitals are quietly reopening the question of how far, and for how long, to press Russia's business elite.
The EU simultaneously lifted sanctions against a second oligarch, giving the reversal a pattern rather than the appearance of a one-off exception. Together, the decisions hint at a potential unwinding of the broader sanctions architecture that Europe built in the early months of the war.
Ukraine has responded with open objection. Officials in Kyiv see the move as a retreat at precisely the moment when maintaining financial and diplomatic pressure on Russia matters most. The episode lays bare a widening gap between European and Ukrainian priorities — Europe weighing energy security, economic recovery, and the costs of prolonged confrontation, while Ukraine watches the coalition it depends on begin, quietly, to splinter.
The European Union has lifted sanctions against Alisher Usmanov, a billionaire whom the bloc's own officials once described as among Vladimir Putin's closest oligarchs. The reversal marks a significant shift in Europe's approach to financial penalties against Russian elites tied to the Kremlin, and it has drawn sharp objections from Ukraine, which sees the move as a retreat from the unified pressure campaign that has defined Western policy since Russia's invasion.
Usmanov's name had become synonymous with the intersection of Russian wealth and political power. The EU's previous characterization of him as one of Putin's favored oligarchs reflected years of scrutiny into his business dealings and his proximity to the Russian president. Sanctions imposed against him were meant to isolate him financially and diplomatically, cutting him off from European markets and freezing assets held within EU jurisdiction. The measures were part of a broader strategy to impose costs on the Russian elite for their role in supporting Putin's government and, by extension, his military actions.
The decision to lift these sanctions did not emerge from a sudden change in Usmanov's circumstances or conduct. Rather, it appears to reflect shifting political calculations within Europe itself. France has been identified as a driving force behind the move, suggesting that at least one major EU member state has concluded that maintaining sanctions against this particular oligarch no longer serves European interests. The reasoning behind this calculation remains opaque, but it signals a willingness among some European capitals to recalibrate their relationship with Russian business elites.
Ukraine's response has been unambiguous. Officials in Kyiv have publicly objected to the decision, viewing it as a weakening of the sanctions regime at a moment when maintaining pressure on Russia remains central to Ukraine's strategic position. The objection underscores a growing tension between European and Ukrainian priorities. While Europe grapples with energy security, economic recovery, and the long-term costs of confrontation with Russia, Ukraine remains focused on ensuring that the financial and diplomatic isolation of the Russian state continues unabated.
The lifting of sanctions against Usmanov is not an isolated action. The EU has also removed measures targeting another oligarch, broadening the scope of the reversal. Together, these decisions suggest a pattern rather than an exception, hinting at a potential recalibration of Europe's entire sanctions architecture. Whether this represents a temporary adjustment or the beginning of a more fundamental shift in EU policy toward Russia remains to be seen. What is clear is that the consensus that once held European capitals together on Russia policy is beginning to fracture, and Ukraine finds itself on the outside of decisions that directly affect its security and leverage.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
The EU previously referred to Usmanov as 'one of Vladimir Putin's favorite oligarchs'— European Union official characterization
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