{
  "id": 6989968,
  "title": "'Immoral and self-destructive' — Zelensky blasts EU for considering lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/immoral-and-self-destructive-zelensky-blasts-eu-for-considering",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-12T20:37:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/immoral-and-self-destructive-zelensky-blasts-eus-failure-to-renew-sanctions-on-russian-oligarchs/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has harshly criticized the European Union for its potential to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs, deeming it both immoral and self-destructive. The EU has until September 15 to renew sanctions on over 3,000 Russian entities and individuals, but failed to do so on September 11. The last extension occurred on March 14. Slovakia's opposition to the sanctions extension, by calling for the delisting of Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, has been a sticking point. France, for the first time, has joined Slovakia's demand, causing frustration among member states. Zelensky specifically mentioned Fridman and Usmanov in a social media post, urging the EU to pressure Russia's business sector instead of easing sanctions. He argued that Russia uses every euro and dollar to prolong the war, making it immoral and self-destructive for Europe to provide Russian businesses with opportunities to avoid the consequences of the conflict.",
  "summary": "\"Five hundred Shahed drones per day is certainly not the right time to even begin a discussion about easing sanctions,\" President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 12, after France reportedly joined Slovakia in calling to delist Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.",
  "key_points": [
    "Zelensky calls EU sanctions lift on Russian oligarchs immoral",
    "Slovakia and France demand delisting of Fridman, Usmanov",
    "EU sanctions renewal deadline: September 15"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}