France wants the Russian oligarch removed from the sanctions list

Russian drones are attacking just a kilometer from the Polish border, Russia is intensifying hybrid activities against the EU, and at the same time France wants the EU to remove the Russian oligarch from the sanctions list - an EU diplomat says in an interview with RMF FM. There could hardly be a more unfortunate moment for such an idea. Such a signal may be perceived in Moscow as a sign of divisions in the EU, he adds.

This is about Alisher Usmanov, one of the richest Russian oligarchs, subject to EU sanctions. Slovakia wants to remove two oligarchs from the list - Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. France proposed a compromise: removing only Usmanov. However, the prevailing belief in Brussels is that it is not about finding a compromise, but that Paris has its own interest in this matter.

French diplomatic sources told RMF FM that France is one of the countries most involved in supporting Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia. At the same time, they explain: "However, we have a special issue related to national security and we want to respond positively to the requests of our international partners who contact us regarding Mr. Usmanov's case."

However, Paris does not explain which partners it is talking about or what the issue of national security is. EU diplomats interviewed by RMF FM also cannot explain it.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in the morning that the Russian attack on a train traveling to Warsaw, just two kilometers from the Polish border, was intended to intimidate the West and discourage it from supporting Ukraine. We should do exactly the opposite. We should show that we support Ukraine and will not be intimidated, she said.

At the same time, the EU failed this solidarity test. After a 20-minute meeting, EU ambassadors still have not reached unanimity on the extension of sanctions, and Paris supports Slovakia's pro-Russian position. This concerns the extension of sanctions covering approximately 3,000. persons and entities. The talks are to be resumed today, but the deadline is tomorrow. Without unanimity, the sanctions will expire.