France joins Slovakia in push to delist Russian oligarch Usmanov from EU sanctions
France unexpectedly joined Slovakia in demanding that Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov be removed from the EU sanctions list, reportedly to facilitate a prisoner swap with Azerbaijan to free detained French citizens. The dispute forced the EU to extend personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov by only seven days while negotiations continue. Luxembourg has warned it will demand the delisting of Mikhail Fridman if Usmanov is removed, and Ukraine's foreign minister has publicly urged the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Key points
- France joined Slovakia in demanding the delisting of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions list.
- France officially avoids commenting on the details; an unnamed French diplomat cited a specific national security reason and said Paris aims to "respond positively" to partners who raised the Usmanov issue.
- The Financial Times, citing three informed sources, reported the motivation is an effort to free several French citizens detained in Azerbaijan through a prisoner exchange.
- Because of France and Slovakia's position, the EU extended sanctions against Putin and Lavrov by only seven days to buy time for further negotiations.
- Luxembourg warned that if Usmanov is delisted, it will demand the removal of Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called on the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Why it matters
France's unexpected alignment with Slovakia on delisting Usmanov exposes a fault line inside the EU's sanctions regime against individuals linked to Russia's war. Linking the removal of a sanctioned Russian oligarch to a bilateral prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan could set a precedent that other member states exploit. The truncated seven-day rollover of sanctions on Putin and Lavrov signals procedural strain within the EU, and Luxembourg's conditional threat to seek the delisting of Mikhail Fridman shows how one national demand can cascade into broader erosion of the list. Ukraine, which publicly opposes any lifting of sanctions on Russian oligarchs, has a direct stake in the outcome.
What happened
France joined Slovakia in pressing the EU to remove Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov from the bloc's sanctions list. According to the Financial Times, citing three informed sources, the French push is driven by an effort to arrange a prisoner exchange with Azerbaijan to free several French citizens detained there, with the Usmanov file becoming entangled in that negotiation. France has avoided commenting officially on the details, but an unnamed French diplomat said Paris has its own national security reason and aims to "respond positively" to partners who raised the Usmanov issue, while insisting France remains a firm supporter of maximum sanctions pressure on Russia's war machine. Other EU member states privately complained that Paris is not explaining its position. Because of France and Slovakia's stance, the EU extended personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov by only seven days to buy time for further negotiations. During the latest discussion, Luxembourg backed the renewal of sanctions but warned that if Usmanov is delisted it will push for the removal of Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman as well. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha publicly called on the EU not to lift sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
Background
The Financial Times, citing multiple informed but unnamed diplomats, sourced the reporting on both the French position and Luxembourg's stance. According to that reporting, France's push to delist Usmanov is tied to efforts to secure the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan, with the sanctions issue becoming part of that negotiation. One unnamed European diplomat warned that rewarding Russia in this way would also reward the imprisonment of European citizens.