Ukraine’s ex-president and son lose bid to break free of EU sanctions

(CN) — EU sanctions still stand for Ukraine’s ousted president and his businessman son, following a court’s Wednesday decision finding old evidence showing their support for Russia remains sound. The General Court of the European Union rejected separate bids by Viktor Yanukovych and his son Oleksandr to overturn sanctions renewed in September 2024 and March 2025. Both argue that the Council of the European Union lacked sufficient grounds to keep them listed.

Judges found that the older evidence still established grounds for renewals. They linked Viktor’s support for Russian military intervention and weakening of Ukraine’s defenses to his involvement in a Russian plan to return him to power in 2022.