Sanctions — 2026-09-12

France and Slovakia Block EU Russia Sanctions Renewal Days Before September 15 Deadline

BLUFFrance's alignment with Slovakia against Usmanov's continued listing complicates but very likely will not prevent unanimous sanctions renewal by the September 15 deadline, though it signals erosion in EU cohesion on Russia policy.

EU ambassadors again failed to agree on extending personal sanctions tied to Russia's war against Ukraine, with the deadline set for September 15 and a follow-up meeting scheduled for Monday 1. RFE/RL editor Rikard Jozwiak reported that Slovakia continues to demand the delisting of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, and that France has now separately pushed to remove Usmanov from the sanctioned list, complicating the talks 1. Four EU diplomats told Euronews that France's position caused "huge frustration" among other member states, with one diplomat citing economic motivation and noting "not a lot of understanding" for Paris's stance 2. A French official said Paris supports renewing the sanctions but declined to comment further, citing confidentiality 2. The sanctions regime, covering more than 3,000 individuals and entities, requires unanimous approval to extend; a shift from six-month to twelve-month renewal cycles is also under discussion 2.

Analysis
France's separate push to delist Usmanov alongside Slovakia's demand converts a single-state veto into a two-front bargaining problem, raising the price of unanimity ahead of Monday's meeting. EU ambassadors will very likely reach a unanimous renewal intact, consistent with the last-minute pattern set in March. Reporting traces to a single Euronews exclusive and Jozwiak's account relayed through Ukrainska Pravda, with other outlets repackaging the same anonymous-diplomat quotes without independent confirmation, leaving moderate confidence in the stated economic motive behind Paris's shift. Paris may instead be leveraging the delisting push to secure its preferred twelve-month renewal cycle rather than acting on economic interest. A failed vote would lapse sanctions on over 3,000 listed individuals and entities, forcing capitals to weigh emergency stopgaps against accepting a gap in Russia's military-industrial sanctions regime.

4 sources

EU ambassadors fail to extend Russia sanctions due to opposition from Slovakia and France - Ukrainska Pravda
France joins Slovakia in asking to delist Russian oligarch Usmanov - Euronews
France, Slovakia delay EU's Russia sanctions renewal - The New Voice of Ukraine
EU Fails to Extend Russia Sanctions For Second Time - Kyiv Post