EU Delays Russia Sanctions Renewal; France Demands Usmanov De-listing

European Union officials extended the deadline for renewing sanctions against Russia by an additional week, moving the expiry from September 15 to September 22, the EU’s Irish presidency spokesperson said on Monday. The extension was granted after the bloc failed to reach a consensus on a six‑month renewal of the sanctions regime, which has been in place since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The key point of contention was whether to remove Russian‑Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the EU’s sanctions list. France, together with Slovakia, called for his removal on national‑security grounds, a position that was not adopted by the majority of member states. EU diplomats reported that the decision to postpone the renewal was a compromise to allow further negotiations on the list’s composition.

The extension gives EU member states additional time to debate the scope of sanctions and the criteria for de‑listing individuals. It also signals the bloc’s ongoing effort to balance punitive measures against Russia with concerns about the broader geopolitical and security implications of the sanctions regime.