EU extends Russia-linked personal sanctions for three years, removes two oligarchs from list
The European Union extended personal sanctions against individuals and companies supporting the war against Ukraine for 36 months at once — the longest such renewal to date. The extension came at the cost of dropping Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list, a compromise that returns them access to frozen European assets. The deal highlights the growing strain on EU sanctions policy, which still requires unanimity among all 27 member states.
Key points
- EU personal sanctions against those supporting the war against Ukraine extended for 36 months, instead of the usual 6 or 12.
- Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman removed from the EU sanctions list as part of the deal.
- Extension followed prolonged negotiations and a difficult compromise among member states.
- France demanded Usmanov's removal on national security grounds; the article suggests this was linked to a non-public deal with Azerbaijan involving pardoned French citizens including Martin Ryan.
- Lifting restrictions returns the oligarchs access to financial accounts, elite real estate, business charters, and mega yachts — including the Dilbar (~600 million USD), now effectively outside EU control.
- Both oligarchs remain under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have also sanctioned them nationally.
- EU sectoral sanctions against Russia expire on 31 July 2027 and will again require unanimity among all 27 member states.
Why it matters
The 36-month renewal is a procedural break from past practice, when sanctions were rolled over every six or twelve months. It demonstrates the EU's determination to keep the framework in place, but the price — the removal of Usmanov and Fridman — shows how vulnerable the regime is to member-state demands. Both oligarchs regain access to European financial accounts, real estate, and luxury assets. The episode also illustrates how bilateral deals unrelated to the war (such as the reported France–Azerbaijan understanding) can shape sanctions policy, and how the unanimity requirement exposes EU decisions to political pressure. Sectoral sanctions covering broader trade with Russia expire on 31 July 2027 and will again require a unanimous vote, raising questions about the durability of the framework.
What happened
The European Union extended personal sanctions against individuals and entities that support the war against Ukraine for 36 months at once — the longest such renewal to date. The decision came after prolonged negotiations among EU member states and required a difficult compromise: the removal of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list.
According to reporting, France — traditionally one of Ukraine's strongest European allies — demanded Usmanov's removal on national security grounds. The article suggests this demand was tied to a non-public arrangement with Azerbaijan under which sanctions on Usmanov were lifted in exchange for the pardoning of French citizens, including Martin Ryan, who had been convicted of espionage.
Lifting personal restrictions returns both oligarchs access to financial accounts, elite real estate, business charters, and mega yachts. Usmanov is associated with the yacht Dilbar, worth approximately 600 million USD, which formally belongs to an offshore structure linked to his sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova. The EU delisted Ismailova in March 2025, and in June 2026 a Frankfurt court ruled that authorities had not proven the yacht's connection to Usmanov — a ruling that is being appealed. With Usmanov now removed from the EU sanctions list, the Dilbar is effectively beyond the EU's control. Fridman filed a 16 billion USD lawsuit against Luxembourg in 2024 over the freezing of his assets, and Luxembourg reportedly viewed the delisting of Usmanov as a dangerous precedent for that case.
Both oligarchs remain under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have also imposed national sanctions on them.
Renewing the EU sanctions package still requires unanimity among all 27 member states. EU sectoral sanctions — covering broader trade with Russia — expire on 31 July 2027 and will again need a unanimous vote.
Background
The extension of EU sectoral sanctions against Russia expires on 31 July 2027 and will again require unanimity among all 27 member states. Historically, Slovakia and Hungary have been the main member states blocking or attempting to weaken sanctions. About 28 billion euros of private Russian assets are estimated to be frozen in the EU. In 2024, Fridman filed a 16 billion USD lawsuit against Luxembourg over the freezing of his assets. The Alternative for Germany party, which has openly called for lifting sanctions on Russia, has performed strongly in several German state parliamentary elections, and Marine Le Pen in France has a chance of winning the next presidential election. Russian businessman Roman Abramovich has repeatedly sought to have the restrictions against him lifted.