EU removes two Russian billionaires from sanctions list

BRUSSELS — Two of Russia’s wealthiest men could soon be free to operate inside the EU after the bloc moved to remove restrictions on them and their empires as part of a high-stakes diplomatic play. Capitals struck a deal on Tuesday to cut Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, five diplomats told POLITICO, granted anonymity to speak frankly. For more than a week, France had been holding the EU’s entire framework of individual sanctions up as part of an unexpected standoff, risking the 3,000 or so listings expiring if they were not renewed. Earlier talks ended without a deal on Monday night, after Baltic nations initially refused to sign off the deal.