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France explained its request to remove Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list, citing a national security issue and a request from international partners. The move has raised questions about EU sanctions cohesion amid the ongoing war. European diplomats told Euronews that France's backing of Slovakia's proposal to lift the sanctions has sparked 'huge frustration' among EU member states, according to Meduza, highlighting growing friction within the bloc over the push to ease restrictions on the sanctioned businessman.