EU sanctions compromise TSN examines the diplomacy

Sep 22

TSN correspondent Olena Cherniakova examines the EU extension of Russian sanctions for three years alongside the removal of Fridman and Usmanov. She says their assets will likely be unfrozen but entry remains a national decision: Latvia and Estonia have imposed restrictions and Lithuania is preparing them. The report attributes French pressure and a possible link to Martin Ryan’s release in Azerbaijan to media accounts, while noting the French ambassador did not confirm that explanation. It recalls Zelenskyy’s meeting with von der Leyen, his criticism of the delisting and his support for the longer sanctions period. Ihor Zhovkva describes discussion of using unallocated SAFE money for joint Ukrainian projects. Britain’s prime minister assures Zelenskyy there are no plans to lift British sanctions. The closing account recalls Slovak advocacy for Usmanov and Luxembourg’s demand concerning Fridman’s compensation claim; it does not establish the ultimate outcome of that claim.

Zelenskyy met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the UN on September 22. TSN's live coverage initially differed on whether their closed-door meeting had finished and reported no outcome. The following day's TSN/Radio Liberty report adds Bloomberg's account, based on an anonymous source, of tension over Ukraine's funding demands and interceptor shortages. Zelenskyy criticizes the EU's delisting of Usmanov and Fridman and thanks von der Leyen for willingness to add other Russian names. Her public account focuses on finance: €37 billion still available for Ukraine that year, further defense support and reforms already agreed with Kyiv and ratified by parliament. She says completing the reforms in 2026 could unlock €20 billion in budget support. TSN reports Zelenskyy's €23 billion shortfall estimate and proposal to accelerate next year's EU loan payments; the Commission's cool response and reference to Canada, Norway and Japan are described as informal reporting. Talks continue; neither the anonymous characterization nor a new disbursement commitment is independently established. Vremya also cites Bloomberg's anonymous account of tension and says EU officials wanted progress on laws reducing Ukraine's shadow economy before additional funding. That reported condition is not presented as a new confirmed EU decision and does not replace von der Leyen's public financing account. TSN's September 25 correspondent says contacts she spoke to do not confirm Bloomberg's description of a tense meeting and consider it exaggerated; she reports Zelenskyy describing the meeting positively while still opposing the two oligarch delistings. The follow-up also airs Ihor Zhovkva on discussion of unused SAFE funds for joint projects. That proposal is separately indexed and does not establish a payment or erase the earlier attributed tension accounts. The full English post-Trump briefing adds Zelenskyy's account of a positive financing framework and work with European leaders to bring the next loan installment closer. The interpretation refers to a two-year '50 billion' package and '45 billion', without identifying the currency; these figures remain unreconciled rather than replacing the other sources' financing amounts. Its separate IMF meeting and unused-defense-fund proposal are indexed independently. No new payment is established.