EU keeps Russia sanctions in place after eleventh-hour deal
Member states reportedly reached a compromise on an extension, while two billionaires would be removed from the list.
According to diplomatic sources, EU ambassadors have reached a compromise on extending targeted sanctions against Russia. In return for keeping the rest of the list in place, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman would be removed.
Sanctions against thousands of individuals and organisations were under severe time pressure on Tuesday. The existing arrangement had previously been extended by just seven days, until 22 September, after member states failed to agree on a new term. Without a new decision, the measures against a large part of the list could lapse.
According to Reuters, EU ambassadors reached a provisional compromise on Monday. It provides for the extension of sanctions against the remaining individuals and entities, while Usmanov and Fridman would be removed from the list. The agreement still had to be formally endorsed through a written procedure.
France and Slovakia pressed for Usmanov to be removed. According to diplomats, Luxembourg linked this to Fridman's position. The countries gave different national reasons for their stance. France referred to a specific national-security issue; its precise background has not been fully explained publicly.
The discussion concerns targeted sanctions, including an asset freeze and a travel ban. Removing one person does not mean that economic sanctions against Russia are disappearing. The EU has separate measures targeting energy, financial institutions, technology, propaganda and the Russian military industry.
EU sanctions rules are adopted unanimously. This means that one member state can block an extension or impose conditions. That decision-making rule made the negotiations especially vulnerable, because a failure to reach agreement would have affected not only the two disputed cases but the entire list.
The EU previously described Usmanov as someone with particularly close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fridman is a co-founder of Alfa Group. Both men contest their inclusion on the sanctions list. The legal and political assessment of their individual cases therefore remains distinct from the broader EU sanctions against Russia.
At the time of publication, the formal legal text of the new extension had not yet appeared as a final decision on the Council's website. The political agreement among ambassadors is therefore an important development, but the precise duration and the definitive removal of the two names depend on formal approval.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- EU sanctions against Russian individuals and organisations require unanimous approval from the member states.
- The arrangement had been temporarily extended until 22 September.
- Diplomats linked a compromise to the removal of Usmanov and Fridman.
Left
Arguments The EU must maintain pressure on Russia and prevent individual exceptions from undermining the credibility of sanctions. Diplomatic or national interests must not outweigh support for Ukraine and accountability for the war.
Values The international rule of law, solidarity with Ukraine and limiting economic power.
Consequences Removing two names could be seen as a precedent for further exceptions. A stable sanctions regime, by contrast, could maintain political pressure on Russia.
Centre
Arguments Sanctions must remain legally robust and targeted. If individual cases are insufficiently strong or national-security interests are at stake, a compromise may be needed to keep the broader arrangement in place.
Values Legal certainty, institutional cohesion, proportionality and European unity.
Consequences A compromise prevents thousands of cases from lapsing at once, but may raise questions about the consistency of sanctions policy.
Right
Arguments The EU must take its own decision-making and national interests seriously. Sanctions are a means, not an end in themselves, and should not continue automatically when evidence or circumstances differ from person to person.
Values National responsibility, property rights, rule-of-law review and strategic autonomy.
Consequences Individual exceptions may be fairer in legal terms and create room for diplomacy. At the same time, division could weaken the EU's deterrence and negotiating position.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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Reporting on the compromise is carefully attributed to diplomatic sources and Reuters. The text does not claim that the formal legal procedure has already been fully completed and distinguishes individual sanctions from economic sanctions.
- confirmed The EU sanctions regime had previously been extended until 22 September 2026. — This is stated in the EU decision of 15 September 2026. source
- confirmed EU ambassadors reached a provisional compromise concerning Usmanov and Fridman. — Reuters reported that diplomats had reached a deal that still required formal approval. source
- confirmed The sanctions include, among other measures, asset freezes and travel restrictions. — The Council of the EU describes these measures on its sanctions page. source
- uncertain The formal legal text of the new extension was not visible at 17:03. — The available official EU pages showed the earlier extension and background information, but no definitive new text. source
Editor's note
The political deal is based on Reuters and other publicly available diplomatic reporting. At 17:03, the formal written approval and definitive legal text were not yet independently visible at the Council of the EU; that distinction has therefore been made explicit in the text.Sources
- EU continues talks on deal to lift sanctions on Russia-linked billionaires — Reuters via MarketScreener
- Russia’s war against Ukraine: EU sanctions — Council of the European Union
- Decision CFSP 2026/2103 — EUR-Lex
- EU lifts sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, extends rest for three years — Billionaires.Africa
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „rusland sancties”
- NOS — „rusland sancties”
- Het Parool — „rusland sancties”