Full Breakdown
EU Sanctions Renewal Stalled Over Oligarch Delistings
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Core Negotiations and Proposed Deal
On September 21 EU ambassadors in Brussels failed to secure a unanimous vote to extend individual sanctions on roughly 3,000 Russia-linked persons. A provisional compromise being discussed would remove Russian-Uzbeks billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Russian-Israeli billionaire Mikhail Fridman from the EU blacklist in exchange for a 36-month renewal of sanctions on the broader list. All legal procedures must be completed by midnight on September 22, the deadline for the sanctions regime.
Background & Context
The EU sanctions regime, first adopted in 2014, was expanded after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Individual sanctions—asset freezes and travel bans—require unanimous approval of all 27 member states every six months. A short-term seven-day extension was adopted after the bloc missed the September 15 deadline to renew the list, leaving the sanctions vulnerable to lapse.
Data & Statistics
- ? 3,000 individuals and entities are covered by the current package.
- The proposed renewal would last 36 months, far longer than the usual six- or twelve-month extensions.
- Alisher Usmanov – net worth $16.6 bn; Mikhail Fridman – net worth $10 bn. Both were added in 2022 for “close ties” to President Vladimir Putin.
Official Statements & Responses
- Baiba Braze, Latvian foreign minister, said the Latvian government’s stance is “unwavering” and that EU sanctions must be strengthened.
- Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s foreign minister, called delisting “unacceptable” and warned it would send the wrong signal to Moscow.
- Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine’s sanctions envoy, argued that delisting without a change in conduct would make pressure appear temporary.
Criticism & Opposition
- Latvia lodged a last-minute objection, preventing the provisional deal from being finalized.
- Poland, the Baltic states, and other hawkish members argued that any easing would embolden Russia.
- Taurimas Valys, Lithuania’s finance minister, said “regarding any loosening of sanctions, we’re very sceptical,” warning it could appear as EU weakness.
- Ukraine’s leadership condemned the proposal as a concession to Russian “enablers” and urged tighter sanctions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the motivation behind France’s push to delist Usmanov. *Politico* reports that France cited “national security concerns,” while *Internazionale* notes French officials said the move responded to pressure from Azerbaijan to secure the release of French nationals. No official French statement confirming either rationale is available.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Latvian government's stance has been unwavering. EU sanctions against Russia must be strengthened, not weakened.” — Baiba Braze
- “What has changed? Nothing. Delisting is unacceptable and would send the wrong signal to Moscow at a time when pressure needs to increase,” — Andrii Sybiha
- “Delisting without a fundamental change in conduct sends exactly the wrong signal: pressure is temporary, accountability is negotiable, and sanctions can simply be waited out,” — Vladyslav Vlasiuk
- “Regarding any loosening of sanctions, we're very sceptical,” — Taurimas Valys
What’s Next
EU ambassadors are scheduled to reconvene on the morning of September 22 to attempt a final vote before the midnight deadline. The decision will determine whether the 36-month extension proceeds and whether Usmanov and Fridman are removed from the EU sanctions list.