EU delays Russia sanctions renewal by a week after France and Slovakia block deal over oligarch Usmanov
The European Union delayed the renewal of its sanctions against Russia by one week on Monday, pushing the deadline from Sept. 15 to Sept. 22 after France and Slovakia blocked an agreement over the inclusion of oligarch Alisher Usmanov.
EU ambassadors extended the existing measures—covering roughly 2,600 Russian individuals and entities—to buy time for further negotiations, according to a spokesperson for the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU . The bloc must renew sanctions every six months by unanimous consent.
France, in a move that surprised fellow diplomats, joined Slovakia in demanding Usmanov’s removal from the list, citing unspecified "national security" reasons . The Financial Times reported France’s push is tied to a potential prisoner swap with Azerbaijan involving detained French citizens . Slovakia has long sought Usmanov’s delisting, along with that of Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman.
Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek billionaire with alleged close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been on the EU sanctions list since 2022 . The EU Council previously cited his role in key sectors of Russia’s economy as justification for his inclusion.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told AFP that technical-level discussions were ongoing in Brussels, without elaborating . A French diplomatic source said the country wished to "respond positively" to international partners regarding Usmanov .
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⚡️Not the time to shield Russian oligarchs, Zelensky says as EU delays sanctions decision amid pressure from France. The EU now has until Sept. 22 to renew its sanctions on Russia. Attempts to reach an extension agreement have been stalled by calls to remove Russian billionaires from the list.
bluesky_Kyiv Independent · about 3 hours ago
Frist für Verlängerung von Russland-Sanktionen verschoben
orf.at · about 3 hours ago
France seeks Usmanov delisting in bid to secure release of French nationals detained in Azerbaijan Paris seeks to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list in an apparent quid-pro-quo move to secure the release of detained French nationals.
euronews · about 3 hours ago
Franța recurge la „tactica Orban: cere UE să ridice sancțiunile unui oligarh rus apropiat de Putin pentru eliberarea unor cetățeni Franța face presiuni asupra statelor Uniunii Europene pentru ridicarea sancțiunilor impuse oligarhului ruso-uzbec Alișer Usmanov, apropiat al lui Vladimir Putin, în încercarea de a obține eliberarea mai multor cetățeni francezi reținuți în Azerbaidjan. Parisul recurge astfel la o tactică folosită de Viktor Orban, condiționându-și acordul pentru prelungirea sancțiunilor de eliminarea lui Usmanov de pe lista persoanelor și entităților vizate de măsurile restrictive. Blocajul a determinat statele membre să accepte o prelungire de o săptămână, pentru continuarea negocierilor.
digi24 · about 3 hours ago
Politico: Az EU nem tudott megállapodni az Oroszország elleni szankciók meghosszabbításáról A lap szerint két orosz oligarcha miatt megy a vita.
hvg.hu · about 3 hours ago
Slovensko a Francúzsko zablokovali dlhšie predĺženie sankcií voči Rusom. EÚ predĺžila individuálne sankcie len o týždeň. Bratislava a Paríž trvajú na vyradení Ališera Usmanova zo zoznamu, pričom francúzske dôvody zostávajú nejasné.
aktuality.sk · about 3 hours ago
EU extends sanctions against Putin and Lavrov for only seven days as further consultations needed EU ambassadors have extended sanctions on Putin, Lavrov and other Russians for seven days as France and Slovakia seek changes to the sanctions list.
ukrpravda · about 3 hours ago
Krieg gegen die Ukraine: EU verschiebt Verlängerung der Russlandsanktionen Über Sanktionen soll verspätet entschieden werden. Frankreich will Oligarch Usmanow von der Liste streichen. Ukraines Bahnverkehr wird verstärkt angegriffen. Das Liveblog
die zeit · about 3 hours ago
Pourquoi lUE est contrainte à reporter le renouvellement de sanctions contre Moscou LUnion européenne a décidé lundi de reporter le renouvellement de sanctions contre la Russie, en raison dune demande de la France den dispenser loligarque Alicher Ousmanov, a-t-on appris de sources diplomatiques. ...
la libre · about 3 hours ago
EU-uenighed om sanktioner mod Rusland
dr.dk · about 3 hours ago