Story perspectives

EU extends Russia sanctions 3,000 names, delists Usmanov, Fridman

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 6:38 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Latvia’s abstention key

On 22 September 2026 EU envoys agreed to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from sanctions and extend restrictions on roughly 3,000 others for three years.
The compromise hinged on Latvia’s abstention, enabling unanimity and a 36-month renewal that avoided another six-month sanctions deadlock.
France pushed for Usmanov’s removal, citing national-security concerns.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the delisting, saying EU sanctions are illegal.

Left

Eroding War Accountability

On 22 September 2026 envoys agreed to remove oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from sanctions list and extend restrictions on 3,000 for three years.
Critics warned the delistings erode war accountability and show how national interests can weaken European sanctions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said delisted name shows why the war began, calling it unacceptable.
EU set a 36-month sanctions renewal and will unveil 1,600 Russia military-industrial designations next month.

Blindspot

Latvia abstained from the vote, enabling unanimity and a 36-month sanctions renewal that avoided another six-month deadlock, according to the Center-leaning sources.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

In March 2014 the European Union imposed its first coordinated sanctions on Russia following the annexation of Crimea, targeting dozens of officials and companies. By December 2014 the EU list included 1,200 individuals, among them oligarchs such as Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, and froze roughly €1 billion in assets. Today's September 2026 decision by EU envoys, with Latvia abstaining and France urging removal, mirrors the 2014 compromise that balanced collective pressure against national interests. The precedent shows that periodic renewals, like the 36-month extension, can dilute accountability, prompting Kyiv’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to warn of eroding war deterrence.

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Latvia’s abstention key

On 22 September 2026 EU envoys agreed to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from sanctions and extend restrictions on roughly 3,000 others for three years.
The compromise hinged on Latvia’s abstention, enabling unanimity and a 36-month renewal that avoided another six-month sanctions deadlock.
France pushed for Usmanov’s removal, citing national-security concerns.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the delisting, saying EU sanctions are illegal.

1 / 4