EU sanctions face collapse as France and Slovakia demand delisting of Russian oligarchs

Key points

• EU ambassadors failed to agree on Monday to renew individual sanctions against nearly 3,000 people and entities linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with the current temporary extension set to expire on Tuesday.
• France and Slovakia demanded the removal of Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list as a condition for renewing the broader sanctions regime.
• A compromise proposal emerged to renew the sanctions for 36 months instead of the standard 12, in exchange for delisting the two men, according to multiple diplomats.
• Ukraine and several EU member states strongly opposed the deal, warning it would signal that sanctions are negotiable and undermine pressure on Moscow.
• Negotiations were extended multiple times, with a final deadline set for Tuesday morning, as diplomats continued to seek a unanimous agreement.

Background

The EU has maintained individual sanctions against Russia since 2014, significantly expanding them after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The sanctions regime requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states for renewal every six months. Previous attempts to renew the sanctions in March and September 2026 stalled due to objections from Slovakia and France over the delisting of Usmanov and Fridman. The current impasse threatens to lapse all individual sanctions if no agreement is reached by Tuesday.

How outlets are covering it

Euronews and Politico emphasized the emerging compromise to renew sanctions for 36 months in exchange for delisting Usmanov and Fridman, with diplomats indicating a deal was likely. The Kyiv Independent highlighted the resistance from other EU member states and Ukraine, noting that some countries were beginning to cave in to the French-Slovak demand but were seeking concessions in return. Kyiv Post focused on the failure to reach a unanimous decision and the risk of all sanctions lapsing, emphasizing the unanimous approval requirement. All sources agreed on the core dispute but differed in their assessment of the likelihood of a deal and the potential consequences of delisting the oligarchs.

Why it matters

The potential lapse of EU sanctions against nearly 3,000 entities linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine would significantly weaken the bloc’s leverage against Moscow and signal that sanctions are negotiable. The deal to delist Usmanov and Fridman in exchange for a longer sanctions renewal could set a precedent for future concessions, undermining the EU’s credibility and unity in supporting Ukraine. The outcome will also impact France’s relations with Azerbaijan and its handling of two French nationals held in prison there.

What to watch

EU ambassadors are set to reconvene on Tuesday morning to finalize a deal on the sanctions renewal. If no unanimous agreement is reached by the deadline, all individual sanctions against nearly 3,000 entities linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine will lapse. The outcome will depend on whether France and Slovakia accept the 36-month renewal compromise or continue to demand the delisting of Usmanov and Fridman without concessions.