EU Sanctions Deal Stalls as Member States Clash Over Delisting Russian Oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman

Written procedure fails in Brussels

European Union member states failed to achieve the necessary unanimity during a written decision procedure conducted on Monday evening, 21 September 2026. The proposed agreement aimed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the EU sanctions framework while simultaneously prolonging restrictions on around 3,000 other individuals, institutions, and corporate entities. According to European diplomats, an unnamed Baltic member state maintained strong objections to delisting the two businessmen, preventing the package from passing under the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU. EU ambassadors from all 27 nations are scheduled to convene again in Brussels on Tuesday morning to continue negotiations. Time is running short for European diplomats, as the existing sanctions regime is set to expire during the night leading into Wednesday unless all member states formally agree on an extension.

National interests behind delisting demands

The current diplomatic impasse originated with a demand from Slovakia to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar confirmed earlier in the year that Bratislava actively backed the oligarch in his efforts against EU restrictions. France subsequently aligned with Slovakia's position. European diplomats reported that the French stance was tied to negotiations seeking the release of French nationals detained in Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic that has consistently lobbied EU capitals to remove Usmanov from the blacklist. While the French government refused to address specific hostage negotiations and cited broader national security grounds, a senior Azerbaijani diplomat denied that Baku had placed pressure on Paris. Luxembourg then introduced its own condition, insisting that if Usmanov were removed, Mikhail Fridman must also be delisted, citing Fridman's multi-billion legal claims against Luxembourg over frozen assets and sanction damages.

Compromise package and renewal cycle

Because the European Union requires unanimous approval among all member states to enact or renew sanctions, individual national governments possess veto power that can force concessions or risk the collapse of the entire framework. Under the compromise negotiated in Brussels, member states agreed in principle to delist Usmanov and Fridman in exchange for extending the remaining sanctions on roughly 3,000 targets for 36 months. Since 2022, personal sanctions against individuals and companies accused of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine have required renewal every six months. Extending the measures for three full years would reduce the frequency of contentious bi-annual renegotiations. However, diplomats noted that lifting measures on Usmanov carries legal risks, as other sanctioned Russian figures could use the decision as legal precedent to challenge their own EU asset freezes in court.

Legal scrutiny and financial assets

Both Usmanov and Fridman were placed under EU asset freezes and travel bans in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with EU listings citing Usmanov's close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin as a favored Kremlin figure. Usmanov has denied all accusations regarding his political and military ties. Forbes recently estimated Usmanov's total net worth at 14.1 billion dollars, equivalent to roughly 12.3 billion euros. The 73-year-old businessman formerly served as president of the International Fencing Federation and held a substantial minority shareholding in English football club Arsenal. In Germany, the Munich public prosecutor investigated Usmanov for suspected violations of foreign trade laws and sanctions regulations, focusing on allegations that he paid approximately 1.5 million euros between April and September 2022 through offshore entities to secure two properties at Lake Tegernsee. Prosecutors also investigated undeclared luxury assets, including high-value artwork, jewelry, and wines, before dropping the legal proceedings last year following a 10 million euro settlement payment.