EU Removes Two Russian Billionaires From Sanctions List
Listen to the story
The European Union has decided to remove two Russian oligarchs from its Russia sanctions list. The men are Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
Sanctions are official rules that stop trade or business with certain people or countries. The EU created these sanctions after Russia started its war on Ukraine, targeting people who supported the war.
Usmanov and Fridman have now been delisted, which means their names were taken off the sanctions list. At the same time, the EU agreed to keep sanctions on almost 3,000 other individuals and companies.
These other sanctions will now continue for three more years. This means the restrictions on those people and businesses will not end soon.
Ireland currently holds the EU presidency, a role that rotates between member countries. Ireland's representatives described the decision as 'a difficult compromise' for the European bloc.
A compromise happens when different sides accept a solution that is not perfect for anyone, so everyone gives up something. This suggests that EU countries disagreed about what to do with the two men before reaching a final decision.
The decision came as the EU faced a deadline to renew its full sanctions package. Without action, some sanctions could have expired completely.
The EU has used sanctions repeatedly since 2022 as one of its main tools to pressure Russia over the war. These sanctions affect billionaires, businesses, and other Russians connected to the conflict.
Vocabulary10 words
- sanctions
- official rules that stop trade or business with a country or person
- oligarchs
- very rich and powerful business people, often with government ties
- delisted
- removed from an official list
- individuals
- single people, not groups
- presidency
- the temporary leadership role held by a country in a group
- compromise
- an agreement where each side gives up something
- deadline
- the final date by which something must happen
- bloc
- a group of countries acting together
- restrictions
- rules that limit actions or freedoms
- targeting
- aiming actions at a specific person or group
📚 Ready to use these words in a real conversation?
Practice live with a real tutor on Preply.
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because of Russia's war on Ukraine 2. They were extended for three more years 3. False
✅ Nice work on the quiz!
Keep the momentum going — book a live English lesson with a Preply tutor.
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The European Union has decided to remove two Russian _____ from its Russia sanctions list.
The men are Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail _____.
The EU created these sanctions after Russia started its _____ on Ukraine.
Usmanov and Fridman have now been _____, which means their names were taken off the sanctions list.
The EU agreed to keep sanctions on almost _____ other individuals and companies.
These other sanctions will now continue for _____ more years.
Ireland currently holds the EU _____, a role that rotates between member countries.
Ireland's representatives described the decision as 'a difficult _____' for the European bloc.
The decision came as the EU faced a _____ to renew its full sanctions package.
The EU has used sanctions repeatedly since 2022 as one of its main tools to _____ Russia over the war.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the EU decided to remove these two men specifically from the sanctions list?
- What might make a decision like this a 'difficult compromise' for EU member countries?
- Do you think long-term sanctions, like the three-year extension, are effective against countries at war?
- How might being removed from a sanctions list change life for someone like Usmanov or Fridman?
🎓 Enjoyed this story?
Turn today's reading into real speaking practice with a live Preply tutor.
More Politics stories
Next story · Medium
Yankees Say Aaron Judge May Miss Start of Playoffs