Ukraine urges EU to match Baltics in reimposing sanctions on Russian oligarchs

What happened

The Kyiv Independent reports that Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly called on EU member states to emulate the Baltic countries’ example by reimposing sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia reintroduced national sanctions against these individuals after they were removed from the EU sanctions list on September 22.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The removal followed pressure from France and Slovakia, who led efforts within the EU to delist Usmanov and Fridman in a move partly justified by the desire to free two French hostages in Azerbaijan, one of whom was pardoned shortly after. The EU’s sanctions list, containing about 3,000 measures against Russia, was set to expire, raising the stakes for a last-minute compromise. Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs described the decision as choosing "between a bad and a much worse" solution.

Despite abstentions from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Belgium allowing the compromise to pass, it triggered swift national-level reversals of the delisting by the Baltic states. Lithuania announced sanctions against the two oligarchs immediately after the EU decision, followed by Estonia and Latvia. Ukraine’s Sybiha framed this move as a firm stand on principle, stating that "this is the best way to demonstrate that principles are not for sale."

Known from the source

• Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha publicly praised Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia for reimposing sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman on the national level after their removal from the EU-wide...
• The EU removed these two oligarchs from its sanctions list on September 22, following a push led by France and Slovakia.
• France justified the delisting partly to aid in releasing two French prisoners in Azerbaijan, with one released on September 23.
• The EU sanctions list includes around 3,000 sanctions targeting Russia, which was nearing expiration at the time.
• Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs condemned the EU compromise as choosing "between a bad and a much worse" solution and announced Latvia would impose its own sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman.

What remains unclear

The situation underscores divisions within the EU on how to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia while balancing diplomatic priorities, including hostage negotiations. It also reflects ongoing political friction in Brussels that risks undercutting the sanctions regime, an important element in supporting Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Whether additional EU member states beyond the Baltics plan to impose national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman in response to the EU delisting. The exact reasoning and diplomatic calculations behind France and Slovakia’s push to delist the oligarchs and how widely this is accepted within the EU. Impact of these sanctions developments on broader EU-Ukraine relations and financial support commitments mentioned (e.g., the €37 billion funding conditional on reforms).

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Kyiv Independent. Open the source.