EU ambassadors agree to lift sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman

September 21, 2026 at 07:44 PM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Ambassadors of all 27 EU countries have agreed to lift sanctions against Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The decision is preliminary and could be reversed if any EU government objects in the coming days.

Key Facts

Ambassadors of all 27 EU member states agreed to lift sanctions against Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
The agreement is preliminary and can be blocked if any EU government objects in the near future.
France and Slovakia had earlier blocked the extension of EU sanctions against Russia over the Usmanov case.
Usmanov has been under EU sanctions since 2022, and Fridman since February 28, 2022.

Sanctions Relief Deal

EU ambassadors reached a preliminary agreement to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. The deal requires that no EU government objects in the coming days. Luxembourg insisted that Fridman be removed alongside Usmanov, and this position was accepted by all 27 ambassadors.

France-Slovakia Blockade

France and Slovakia blocked the extension of EU sanctions against Russia over the Usmanov case. Paris and Bratislava opposed increasing the prolongation period from six months to one year. Sources suggested that France's tactic may be driven by economic interests.

Sanctions History

Usmanov has been under EU sanctions since 2022, and the European Court rejected his appeal in February 2024. Fridman has been under sanctions since February 28, 2022, and the EU Council extended them in 2024 despite a court ruling annulling the original grounds.