EU Sanctions Crisis: France and Slovakia Threaten to Void 3,000 Russia Restrictions Over Oligarch Delisting

Key points

• EU ambassadors failed to agree on renewing sanctions against nearly 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, with a deadline set for Tuesday.
• France and Slovakia are blocking the renewal to demand the delisting of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, citing national security concerns and diplomatic pressure from Azerbaijan.
• A compromise proposal suggests extending the sanctions for 36 months instead of the usual 12 months in exchange for the delisting of the two oligarchs.
• Ukraine's sanctions envoy and EU ambassador criticized the move, warning that delisting without a change in Russian conduct sends the wrong signal and invites Moscow to raise the stakes.
• The deadlock has led to multiple tense discussions among EU ambassadors, with some countries beginning to cave in to the French-Slovak demand to avoid letting all sanctions lapse.

Background

The EU's sanctions regime against Russia was significantly expanded after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The current dispute concerns individual listings, which are separate from the EU's broader sectoral restrictions on the Russian economy. The EU's 21st sanctions package, adopted in July, targeted additional vessels in Russia's shadow fleet, financial institutions, and businesses supporting Moscow's war effort. Previous attempts to renew the sanctions in March and September 2026 also stalled due to objections from France and Slovakia.

How outlets are covering it

The Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post emphasize the risk of all 3,000 sanctions lapsing if a unanimous agreement is not reached, highlighting the fragility of the EU's sanctions regime. Politico focuses on the deep divisions among EU capitals, with 11 member states opposing the delisting of Usmanov. Euronews highlights the emerging compromise of a 36-month extension in exchange for the delisting, while also noting the anger of several member states over the precedent it could set. Ukraine's sanctions envoy and EU ambassador strongly opposed the delisting, warning that it sends the wrong signal and invites Moscow to raise the stakes.

Why it matters

The outcome of this negotiation will determine whether the EU can maintain its sanctions regime against Russia, which is a key tool in pressuring Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. A failure to reach a unanimous agreement could lead to the lapse of all 3,000 sanctions, undermining the EU's credibility and sending a signal that sanctions can be negotiated away. The compromise, if reached, could set a precedent for future delistings, potentially weakening the EU's sanctions regime in the long term.

What to watch

EU ambassadors are expected to reconvene at 2 p.m. local time to finalize an agreement. If a compromise is reached, the sanctions will be extended for 36 months, and Usmanov and Fridman will be delisted. If no agreement is reached, all 3,000 sanctions could lapse, potentially allowing the two oligarchs to move money in and out of the EU, do business with European firms, and travel to the bloc.