France demands Usmanov's removal from EU sanctions list, delays Russia sanctions renewal
France joined Slovakia in demanding that Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov be removed from the EU sanctions list, reportedly to help secure the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan. The move blocked a planned one-year renewal of individual sanctions against Russia; EU ambassadors instead extended measures, including those targeting Putin and Lavrov, for only seven days, until September 22. Luxembourg warned it will push for the delisting of Mikhail Fridman if Usmanov is removed, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha urged the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Key points
- France joined Slovakia in demanding the exclusion of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list on September 14.
- According to the Financial Times, citing informed sources, France's push is linked to negotiations with Azerbaijan over French citizens detained there; France officially declines to comment on the details.
- EU ambassadors failed to reach agreement on a one-year renewal of individual Russia sanctions and extended them only until September 22.
- Slovakia is demanding the delisting of both Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
- Luxembourg signalled it will demand Fridman's exclusion if Usmanov is delisted.
- An unnamed European diplomat said removing Usmanov would mean 'not only rewarding Russia, but also rewarding the imprisonment of European citizens.'
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Why it matters
The episode could create the first case in which the release of prisoners is directly tied to the easing of EU sanctions against a Russian oligarch. It forced the EU to extend sanctions against Russia, including those on Putin and Lavrov, for only seven days rather than a planned one-year renewal, exposing internal disagreement among member states. Luxembourg's warning that it will press for the delisting of Mikhail Fridman if Usmanov is removed raises the prospect of a cascade of national carve-out demands that could weaken the sanctions regime as a whole. Ukraine's foreign minister publicly called on the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs, putting Kyiv at odds with Paris on a core wartime issue.
What happened
On September 14, EU ambassadors met to extend individual sanctions against Russia. The EU had planned to renew the measures for one year instead of the current six-month cycle, but France joined Slovakia in demanding that Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov be removed from the sanctions list. According to the Financial Times, citing informed sources, France's position is tied to an effort to negotiate the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan, with the Usmanov issue folded into those talks; Paris officially declines to comment on the details. An unnamed French diplomat said France has its own specific national security reason and aims 'to respond positively to our international partners who have raised the issue of Usmanov,' while insisting France remains a firm supporter of maximum sanctions pressure on Russia's war machine. Because of France's and Slovakia's positions, ambassadors could not reach agreement on a full renewal and instead extended individual sanctions, including those targeting Putin and Lavrov, by only seven days, to September 22. Slovakia is also pushing for the delisting of Mikhail Fridman, and Luxembourg signalled it will demand Fridman's removal as well if Usmanov is delisted. Representatives of other EU member states privately complained that Paris has not explained its position, and EU foreign ministers reportedly expressed scepticism during Tuesday and Wednesday discussions. The next ambassadors' meeting is scheduled for September 22, and according to Politico, France has one week to convince other EU countries that the carve-out will not trigger a cascade of similar demands. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha publicly called on the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
The story is carried by Ukrainian-language outlets and framed primarily through Kyiv's concerns. Ukrainian coverage foregrounds Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha's public call for the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs and emphasises the risk that delisting Usmanov would create the first direct link between prisoner releases and the easing of Russia sanctions — a precedent Kyiv sees as a threat to the sanctions regime.
Where reporting differs
Sources differ on how many informed Financial Times sources the reporting about France's motivation was based on: one version of the reporting cites three informed sources, while another does not specify a number.
Background
The EU imposed financial restrictions and a travel ban on Usmanov in 2022 as part of sanctions against persons 'undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,' citing his alleged material support for Russia's war. EU ambassadors had planned to extend individual Russia-related sanctions for one year instead of the current six-month period; on September 14 they failed to reach that agreement and instead renewed the measures only until September 22. Slovakia had already been demanding the exclusion of both Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list before France joined it on September 14.