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The European Union’s unified sanctions wall against Russia just developed a crack, and France is holding the chisel. Paris has demanded that Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov be removed from the EU’s sanctions list, a move that forced the bloc into an awkward last-minute extension of the measures to avoid an embarrassing lapse.
France isn’t alone. Slovakia has joined the push, seeking the delisting of both Usmanov and fellow Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. Together, the two countries blocked the unanimous renewal that the sanctions package requires, turning what should have been procedural housekeeping into a full-blown diplomatic standoff.
A one-week lifeline
The sanctions were originally set to expire on September 15, 2026. With France and Slovakia refusing to sign off, EU ambassadors scrambled on September 14 to agree on a one-week extension, pushing the deadline to September 22. That buys time for negotiations, but not much.
France has cited a “specific national security issue” as justification for its position, along with the need to accommodate international partners. Speculation has pointed toward potential lobbying from countries like Azerbaijan and Turkey, though the exact nature of France’s national security rationale remains opaque.
Italy and Croatia reportedly signaled willingness to support Usmanov’s delisting as part of a broader compromise to keep the rest of the sanctions package intact.
Who is Alisher Usmanov
Usmanov has been on the EU’s sanctions list since 2022, designated over his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The billionaire has invested heavily across Russian economic sectors. He’s also sanctioned by both the UK and the US.
His assets across Europe, including luxury real estate in multiple countries, were frozen following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky calls it ‘immoral’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t mince words. On September 12, he condemned the discussions around delisting Usmanov and Fridman, calling the potential easing of sanctions “immoral and self-destructive.”
The fracture beneath the surface
This isn’t the first time EU sanctions unanimity has been tested. Slovakia has historically pushed for Fridman’s delisting, and Hungary has repeatedly used sanctions votes as leverage for unrelated grievances. The current list was last renewed in March 2026 and includes around 3,000 individuals and entities.
The requirement for unanimity in EU foreign policy decisions has always been a double-edged sword. It ensures that sanctions carry the full weight of the bloc, but it also means any single member state can hold the process hostage.
The September 22 deadline is now the date that matters. If France and Slovakia hold firm and the compromise of delisting Usmanov gains enough support, the EU will have set a precedent that individual sanctions designations are negotiable under sufficient pressure.
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