---
title: "Zelensky urges EU to maintain sanctions on Russian oligarchs "
url: https://moldova1.md/p/85223/zelensky-urges-eu-to-maintain-sanctions-on-russian-oligarchs
published: 2026-09-13T05:51:00Z
language: en
author: "Redacția  TRM"
section: "International"
source: moldova1.md
---

# Zelensky urges EU to maintain sanctions on Russian oligarchs 

> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to maintain sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman on Friday, warning that Kremlin-linked business magnates must not escape accountability.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/7c626975-a483-4756-b26a-b34ae161bcf0.jpg)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the European Union to maintain sanctions against Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman on Friday, warning that Kremlin-linked business magnates must not escape accountability.

Addressing international partners in an evening address, the Ukrainian president stressed that Russian business leaders financing Moscow's military operations should face persistent global isolation. 

*“Russian businesses paying taxes into the military budget, and the oligarchs without whom Putin’s system cannot function, must realize there is no safe haven for them anywhere in the world as long as this war continues,”* Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

**Diplomatic standoff in Brussels**

Zelenskyy specifically singled out Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, arguing that Russian tycoons must actively oppose the war rather than seek sanctions relief while Ukraine's economy endures devastating infrastructure strikes. He published images showing the aftermath of recent Russian drone and missile barrages, noting that foreign-owned facilities in Ukraine—including an Indian-owned steel mill, an American sunflower oil plant, and a Polish ceramics manufacturer—have been hit in recent days.

The Ukrainian president’s appeal comes as European Union member-state ambassadors struggle to reach consensus on renewing individual sanctions against approximately 2,200 Russian individuals and entities ahead of a September 15 deadline. Unanimous approval among all 27 EU member states is required to extend the restrictive measures for another six months.

EU diplomats failed to reach an agreement during meetings on September 9 and September 11, with a decisive round of negotiations scheduled for Monday, September 14. According to diplomatic sources cited by Euronews and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Slovakia has pushed to delist both Usmanov and Fridman, while France has recently raised objections to extending individual measures against Usmanov.

*“EU ambassadors once again failed today to reach an agreement on extending sanctions against Russia,”* RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak reported. *“A new meeting will take place on Monday—one day before the September 15 deadline. Slovakia still insists on removing Usmanov and Fridman, but the situation has grown more complicated as France now also advocates removing Usmanov from the list.”*

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

***
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