The European Union has delisted two prominent Russian businessmen, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions register following diplomatic pressure from France and Luxembourg. While the broader EU sanctions framework was extended for an additional three years, this strategic exemption has sparked significant controversy. Ukrainian officials have formally protested the move, characterizing it as diplomatically problematic given ongoing geopolitical tensions and the perceived proximity of both oligarchs to the Kremlin's inner circles.

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