EU deadlocked on changes to Russia sanctions ahead of key Ukraine, Greenland talks - Europe live

Morning opening: Welcome to New YorkJakub KrupaGlobal leaders are gathering in New York this week for the 81st UN general assembly and given the state of the world, it’s likely to be a lively one.We are expecting to hear today from the US president, Donald Trump, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, and France’s Emmanuel Macron (in his last UNGA appearance), among others.Macron got to New York early and already held talks with Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night, possibly trying to mediate ahead of the pair’s closely watched meeting later today. Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to sit down together in the late afternoon or early evening.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron in New York, USA. Photograph: Presidential Press Service Handout/EPAOutside the main UNGA room, it will also be worth keeping an eye on Trump’s meeting with Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Jens-Frederik Nielsen as they meet to sign the new Greenland deal on Arctic security.Expect potentially diverging interpretations of what the deal actually involves…Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's government leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit the 9/11 memorial and Ground Zero in New York. Photograph: Mads Claus Rasmussen/APSeparately, I will also keep an eye on events back in Europe as EU ambassadors meet in Brussels to discuss the latest Russia sanctions list with some controversial attempts to amend it and take some fairly well-known names out of it. More on that shortly.Lots for us to cover today.It’s Tuesday, 22 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.Key events9m agoKremlin says all Russia sanctions are illegal, should be lifted32m agoMacron, Zelenskyy discuss Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter48m agoEU deadlocked over plans to remove two Russian billionaires from sanctions list51m agoMorning opening: Welcome to New YorkKremlin says all Russia sanctions are illegal, should be liftedMeanwhile, the Kremlin ⁠said it considered all western ⁠sanctions on ⁠Russian ​individuals to be illegal and that ⁠they should all be revoked.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry ⁠Peskov was answering ​a question about ‌a ‌push by some EU ‌countries to lift sanctions on Russia-linked billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman in return for keeping ‌thousands of other individuals and businesses under ​sanctions related to the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported (11:15).Macron, Zelenskyy discuss Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winterDuring their last night’s meeting, France’s Macron and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy discussed Russia’s continuing strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which the French president said “threaten to deprive millions of families of heating and electricity.”Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets Emmanuel Macron in New York“France will stand by Ukraine to face the winter, and the G7 Energy will also be mobilised at its side,” Macron added.He also said: “We are strengthening its air defence with the signing of a contract for the delivery of radars, as well as the supply of interceptors. I also discussed this support with President Trump, as well as the prospect of an energy truce and a moratorium in the Black Sea, which we support. This will be a key issue in the negotiations that must resume and that must lead to a just and lasting peace.” Zelenskyy added that the pair “spoke primarily about security and the winter support package for Ukraine.”But just hours after their discussions we received further reports of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s oil and gas facilities, including in Poltava region.Largest Ukrainian oil and gas company, Naftogaz, said the attack using ballistic missiles caused “critical damage” to the site, effectively making it impossible to restore it, Reuters reported.EU deadlocked over plans to remove two Russian billionaires from sanctions listJennifer Rankinin BrusselsThe EU is deadlocked over a plan to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list as part of a bitterly disputed deal to keep broader restrictions in place on nearly 3,000 people and companies accused of enabling Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.Russian president Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Russian businessman and founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia in 2018. Photograph: SPUTNIK/ReutersAmbassadors from the EU’s 27 member states failed to reach agreement at a meeting early on Tuesday – their third session in around 24 hours on the topic. The senior diplomats will reconvene later today just hours ahead of a legal deadline.Without an agreement sanctions on nearly 3,000 people and entities accused of supporting the war on Ukraine will lapse at the end of Tuesday 22 September.The list includes Vladimir Putin, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Duma deputies, Russia’s major banks, energy companies and military industrial complex.The EU can also agree a short-term extension pending a longer agreement and has already prolonged the deadline by one week. One diplomat suggested that was a likely outcome.Latvia emerged as the last-minute block on an agreement. Like many member states the Baltic state has strong objections to the de-listings, which are demanded by France and Slovakia.Latvia’s prime minister Andris Kulbergs tweeted late Monday night that he could not accept the proposed compromise – the de-listings of Usmanov and Fridman in exchange for a 36-month extension of the blacklist of nearly 3,000 names, far longer than the usual six-month rollover.He said: “Extending sanctions for 36 months would be the right step. However, the price for it must not be simply striking both individuals from the sanctions list. Latvia cannot accept SUCH an offer.” Latvian prime minister Andris Kulbergs attends the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finland last week. Photograph: Kaisa Siren/EPAHe added that his foreign minister, Baiba Braže, would work with “Brussels and Paris to find a solution SUITABLE for Latvia’s interests. We will seek support in the EUROPEAN UNION for Latvia’s position”.When details of the expected deal emerged on Monday, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the delisting was “unacceptable and would send the wrong signal to Moscow at a time when pressure needs to increase”.France infuriated and stunned EU member states by joining Slovakia’s populist government in petitioning for Usmanov’s de-listing earlier this month. France has told EU diplomats only that the delisting is on national security grounds. The Financial Times has reported that it is linked to a prisoner exchange deal with Azerbaijan involving the release of French nationals.Azerbaijan, along with the Organisation of Turkic States, has previously lobbied western decision-makers to remove Usmanov from sanctions listings, describing him as “a renowned philanthropist” who has built bridges between the West, Central Asia and wider Turkic world. Slovakia began lobbying for Usmanov and fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman to be removed from the EU sanctions list in the summer.Luxembourg has argued that Fridman should come off the list, if Usmanov is removed. Fridman is seeking $16bn in damages from Luxembourg for freezing his assets.Morning opening: Welcome to New YorkJakub KrupaGlobal leaders are gathering in New York this week for the 81st UN general assembly and given the state of the world, it’s likely to be a lively one.We are expecting to hear today from the US president, Donald Trump, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, and France’s Emmanuel Macron (in his last UNGA appearance), among others.Macron got to New York early and already held talks with Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night, possibly trying to mediate ahead of the pair’s closely watched meeting later today. Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to sit down together in the late afternoon or early evening.Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron in New York, USA. Photograph: Presidential Press Service Handout/EPAOutside the main UNGA room, it will also be worth keeping an eye on Trump’s meeting with Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Jens-Frederik Nielsen as they meet to sign the new Greenland deal on Arctic security.Expect potentially diverging interpretations of what the deal actually involves…Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's government leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit the 9/11 memorial and Ground Zero in New York. Photograph: Mads Claus Rasmussen/APSeparately, I will also keep an eye on events back in Europe as EU ambassadors meet in Brussels to discuss the latest Russia sanctions list with some controversial attempts to amend it and take some fairly well-known names out of it. More on that shortly.Lots for us to cover today.It’s Tuesday, 22 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.