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EU extends Russia sanctions deadline after six-month rollover rejected

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 11:08 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

EU ambassadors extended Russia sanctions deadline to September 22 2026 after states rejected a six-month rollover.
Luxembourg said any Usmanov delisting must accompany Mikhail Fridman's, deepening the deadlock.
France and Slovakia asked the EU to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list.
Officials linked the delisting request to negotiations for two French nationals detained in Azerbaijan.
An diplomat warned that France’s push could undermine EU credibility and spark a “race to the bottom.”

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Story summary

EU ambassadors extended Russia sanctions deadline to September 22 2026 after states rejected a six-month rollover.
Luxembourg said any Usmanov delisting must accompany Mikhail Fridman's, deepening the deadlock.
France and Slovakia asked the EU to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list.
Officials linked the delisting request to negotiations for two French nationals detained in Azerbaijan.
An diplomat warned that France’s push could undermine EU credibility and spark a “race to the bottom.”