Russia Demands EU Lift Sanctions on Russian Businessmen
Listen to the story
Russia is fighting a war in Ukraine. The European Union, or EU, has put sanctions on many Russian people. Sanctions are rules that stop money or travel. Russia now wants the EU to stop all these sanctions. Russia wants this for rich Russian businessmen. Two men are named: Alicher Ousmanov and Michael Fridman. They are called oligarchs. An oligarch is a very rich and powerful businessman.
France and Luxembourg asked the EU to remove two oligarchs from the sanctions list. The EU agreed to do this. This happened as part of a deal. The EU makes deals about sanctions on Russia often.
Latvia did not agree with part of the deal. Latvia is another EU country. It stopped a full agreement between EU countries about Russia sanctions. The war in Ukraine and sanctions talks are still going on.
Vocabulary3 words
- EU
- a group of European countries that work together
- sanctions
- rules that punish a country or person, often about money
- oligarchs
- very rich and powerful businessmen
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Lift sanctions on Russian businessmen 2. France and Luxembourg 3. No
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Russia is fighting a _____ in Ukraine.
The European Union, or EU, has put _____ on many Russian people.
Russia now wants the EU to stop all these _____.
Two men are named: Alicher Ousmanov and Michael _____.
They are called _____.
France and _____ asked the EU to remove two oligarchs from the list.
The EU agreed to do this as part of a _____.
_____ did not agree with part of the deal.
It stopped a full agreement between EU countries about Russia _____.
The war in Ukraine and sanctions talks are still _____ on.
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