Vilnius strongly opposes France’s push to remove Usmanov from Russian sanctions, its finance minister told Euronews. However, fears of the blacklist expiring will likely lead to his removal despite heavy backlash.
Lithuania remains “very sceptical” regarding the <a s finance minister, Taurimas Valys.
France requested the delisting of Usmanov last week as part of a broader arrangement that could secure the release of two French nationals imprisoned in Azerbaijan. While the country cited national <a Regarding any loosening of sanctions, we're very sceptical," Valys said on Euronews' interview <a s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Vilnius argued that the timing is inappropriate, noting that any attempt to minimize sanctions before a peace deal is reached could be interpreted by Russia as a sign of weakness.
He also suggested that delisting Usmanov could project a divided Europe in its support for Kyiv. The oligarch was sanctioned early in the war due to his “close ties” to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his interests in “key sectors” of the Russian economy that generate “substantial” revenue for the state. He has denied these allegations.
“Russia should understand that we are united,” Valys said. “We see Ukraine as a part of our enlargement process. Any kind of effort to occupy more [land] or cause more damage to Ukraine is completely unacceptable.”
He added that Lithuania actually advocates for imposing even tougher sanctions on Russia.
However, despite most EU capitals aligning with the position held by Vilnius regarding the removal of names from the list, the Irish presidency—which currently leads the rotating EU Council—has proposed a compromise to delist both Usmanov and another Russian businessman, Mikhail Fridman.
In exchange for removing these oligarchs, the proposal suggests an unprecedented 36-month renewal of the sanctions regime to prevent similar deadlocks in the future, diplomats told Euronews. EU diplomats are scheduled to review this proposal in Brussels on Monday.
The urgency to resolve the sanctions impasse is increasing, as the current short-term extension—which EU envoys pushed back by seven days last week after failing to reach a deal on a six-month renewal—is set to expire on Tuesday if no agreement is reached.
Kyiv has also strongly condemned the push to delist Usmanov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have stated that lifting these restrictions would be an unacceptable concession.
