EU edges toward delisting Usmanov in exchange for Azerbaijan prisoner release and 3-year sanctions renewal
EU diplomats are pushing toward a compromise to remove Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the sanctions list in exchange for Azerbaijan freeing two French nationals and a 36‑month renewal of the sanctions regime, a deal that would require unanimous support and has drawn concern from several member states and Ukraine; no agreement has yet been reached as talks continue in Brussels.