Personal Sanctions Cannot End the War, but They Put Pressure on Putin’s Inner Circle – ILI Head on LVIV MEDIA

Personal sanctions against Russian businessmen create economic and political pressure on individuals linked to the Kremlin, but on their own they cannot force Russia to end its war against Ukraine. Tetiana Khutor, Head of the Institute of Legislative Ideas, said this in an interview with LVIV MEDIA, commenting on the EU’s decision to remove Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from its sanctions list.

“Personal sanctions mainly create inconveniences for those who are linked to the Kremlin. But these are not the kind of restrictions that can end the war,” the expert said.

According to her, the lifting of sanctions against billionaires largely depends on the political and economic interests of individual states. In Usmanov’s case, for example, the decision was influenced by issues related to the interests of France and Azerbaijan, as well as the positions of other countries.

“There was a major political bargaining process at various levels. On the one hand, France took this step for national security reasons, in order to secure the release of two imprisoned individuals. On the other hand, the decision came as a shock to everyone,” Tetiana Khutor said.

The Head of ILI stressed that the EU’s decision to extend sanctions against Russia for three years instead of the previous six-month periods will help avoid regular political bargaining over their renewal during this period. At the same time, with regard to sectoral restrictions, particularly in the areas of trade and the economy, new political agreements may emerge as early as 2027.

“When it comes to sectoral sanctions, we should expect bargaining and, possibly, some unwelcome news next year. The further extension of these restrictions will depend on the political situation in the EU and in individual member states. At the same time, the situation remains dynamic, and much will depend on future political changes,” the expert warned.

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