EU postponed decision on Russian sanctions. France and Slovakia put on the brakes
The delay puts the timely renewal of EU restrictions at risk while member states debate individual listings and separate measures on Russian citizens and the shadow fleet.
Saturday, 12 September 2026 16:12
EU ambassadors failed on Friday, September 11, to agree on extending sanctions against Russia, postponing a decision until September 14, RBC-Ukraine reported. That leaves ambassadors to meet one day before the September 15 deadline for a decision.
The main dispute centers on demands by some EU countries to lift restrictions on Russian businessmen. Slovakia wants oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman removed from the sanctions list.
France has demanded that sanctions against Usmanov be lifted and that he be completely removed from the EU blacklist. The differences again prevented consensus among ambassadors and put a timely extension of the sanctions at risk.
The EU is also working on a new package of restrictions targeting Russian citizens and the shadow fleet. Measures under consideration include stricter limits on the movement of Russian diplomats and tighter controls on Russian citizens' travel across EU countries.
The United States is preparing tougher sanctions measures as well. The US House of Representatives plans to consider next week a bill imposing "bone-crushing sanctions" on Russia, and "The bill is expected to pass by a simple majority vote."
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