EU Fails to Extend Russia Sanctions For Second Time

EU ambassadors failed to agree on extending Western sanctions against Russia, after France joined Slovakia in demanding changes to the list of sanctioned individuals.Four EU diplomats told Euronews on Friday, Sept. 11, that the two countries are seeking to remove Russian-Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov, causing “huge frustration” among other members of the bloc. Besides Usmanov, Slovakia has pushed for Mikhail Fridman, a cofounder of Alfa Bank – Russia’s largest non-state bank – to be removed from the sanctions list.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.The ambassadors are scheduled to meet again on Monday, just one day before the sanctions are set to expire on Tuesday, Sept. 15, according to European Pravda.“Slovakia still wants Usmanov and Fridman delisted, but the issue is now further complicated as France also wants Usmanov off the blacklist,” Rikard Jozwiak, Radio Liberty’s editor said in a statement on X.Frustration among member statesUsmanov, an Uzbek-born Russian businessman and billionaire, built his fortune through investments in technology, metals and mining, while Mikhail Fridman, an Israeli-Russian businessman born in Ukraine, built one of Russia’s most powerful private conglomerates.Both individuals are linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the military-industrial complex sustaining Moscow’s war efforts.According to European Pravda, Bratislava raised the same demand when the sanctions were last renewed in March. Throughout several EU ambassadors meetings, Slovakia reportedly opposed the renewal of sanctions, pushing for both oligarchs to be delisted, while also requesting the six-month timeframe to remain in place. Other Topics of Interest Russia Launches First Commercial 5G Networks For First Time Since Nearly a Decade of Delays Nearly 10 million people could gain 5G access as Moscow moves to end years of delays tied to Western sanctions and equipment shortages. Although Paris has supported the overall renewal of sanctions, it has now changed its stance towards Usmanov, who has been blacklisted since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.“It raised a lot of questions about the motivation – seems mostly economic reasons at play here,” an EU diplomat told Euronews. “Not a lot of understanding on the side of other member states.”The frustration comes as European capitals, particularly Germany and Poland, remain on edge over Russia’s escalating hybrid threats, including a recent attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and repeated drone incursions in NATO airspace.Most recently on Thursday, Sept. 10, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that Poland expects Russia to target its border crossings with Ukraine after averting an overnight threat. He also said he received a “fairly precise report” directly from the CIA regarding the upcoming months urging the EU to prepare for a range of scenarios, including increased Russian provocations or a direct attack on NATO’s eastern flank.Over 3,000 individuals and entities already sanctionedThe EU continues updating its sanctions regime. Currently, the list covers more than 3,000 individuals and entities tied to Russia’s military-industrial complex.Individual listings, according to Euronews, have been renewed every six months. However, a 12-month renewal is now under discussion, following a similar shift for sectoral sanctions from six-month to 12-month cycles in July.Still, a single member state can block an extension as all of the EU’s decisions require unanimous approval.Paris reportedly framed its push to delist Usmanov as a form of “political compromise,” calculating that Slovakia would not shy away from both of its delisting demands the way it eventually did during the last renewal round, as per Euronews.Following France’s separate objection, the EU softened its proposed visa ban on Russian combatants on July 9, limiting the measure to short-stay visas and only to those who had directly participated in the war.New ways to use frozen Russian assetsAs of Friday, the EU is also reviving efforts to use frozen Russian reserves to finance Ukraine, exploring a new structure designed to overcome Belgium’s objections. The push comes as Kyiv faces a $27 billion defense funding gap and mounting pressure from Russia’s intensified attacks.According to a separate report from Jozwiak, Russian billionaire and former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich lost his third legal challenge against the EU sanctions on Wednesday, Sept. 9.As of Aug. 30, the EU had also prepared an expansion of its sanctions, with plans to add approximately 1,600 individuals and entities to the list. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.