EU countries move toward Russia sanctions deal

BRUSSELS — EU countries are moving toward a new deal that could see two prominent Russian billionaires removed from its sanctions list, in exchange for maintaining restrictions on hundreds of others. Ambassadors from across the bloc met in Brussels on Monday to negotiate the renewal of the sanctions framework , after France refused to allow it to proceed unless tycoon Alisher Usmanov was removed. Mikhaïl Fridman, one of Russia’s wealthiest people, is also slated for removal. According to three diplomats with knowledge of the talks, granted anonymity to speak freely, the deal would see sanctions against more than 3,000 people renewed for the next 36 months — in exchange for the removal of Usmanov and Fridman.