UK And EU Allies Maintain Sanctions Pressure On Usmanov And Fridman

The United Kingdom has decided to continue applying sanctions against Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, despite the European Union's decision to remove them from its sanctions list, reports Bloomberg, citing sources close to the situation. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly disagreed with the EU's move during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Burnham stressed the importance of maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia to compel it to end the war. Downing Street did not comment on Burnham's private remarks but noted his emphasis on increasing sanctions to bring Russia to the negotiating table. The EU had extended sanctions against nearly 3,000 individuals and entities for another 36 months, but Usmanov and Fridman were specifically removed from the list.

Estonia, Lithuania, and other European partners have either introduced or maintained their own national restrictions on the two businessmen, citing their continued support for Russia's aggression in Ukraine.