All EU sanctions linked to Russia's war may expire as France, Slovakia seek to delist oligarchs
European Union sanctions related to the war in Ukraine face potential expiration after France and Slovakia pushed to delist Russian oligarchs. EU envoys extended current sanctions by seven days to debate a six-month renewal, but ambassadors have repeatedly failed to agree on extending measures against Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych. While a deal to resolve the impasse over the delisting of Alisher Usmanov is reportedly near, the deadlock has prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to describe the consideration of lifting sanctions as immoral and self-destructive.
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- ✓ EU envoys extended Russia sanctions by seven days to debate a six-month renewal.
- ✓ France and Slovakia are seeking to delist Russian oligarchs.
- ✓ EU ambassadors failed to agree on extending sanctions against Vladimir Putin.
What changed
EU envoys granted a seven-day extension to debate a six-month sanctions renewal amid a deadlock over delisting requests.
Live updates
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EU Sanctions Deadlock as France and Slovakia Seek Oligarch Delisting
European Union sanctions related to the war in Ukraine face potential expiration after France and Slovakia pushed to delist Russian oligarchs. EU envoys extended current sanctions by seven days to debate a six-month renewal, but ambassadors have repeatedly failed to agree on extending measures against Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych. While a deal to resolve the impasse over the delisting of Alisher Usmanov is reportedly near, the deadlock has prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to describe the consideration of lifting sanctions as immoral and self-destructive.
Why it matters
EU sanctions require unanimous member state agreement for renewal and modification. A failure to reach consensus can lead to the lapse of thousands of restrictive measures. This dispute centers on the balance between maintaining pressure on the Kremlin and addressing specific member state requests regarding individual sanctioned persons.
What is confirmed
- EU envoys extended Russia sanctions by seven days to debate a six-month renewal.
- France and Slovakia are seeking to delist Russian oligarchs.
- EU ambassadors failed to agree on extending sanctions against Vladimir Putin.
Still unconfirmed
- France and Slovakia may scupper 3,000 EU sanctions to protect two Russian oligarchs.
What to watch next
- The outcome of the seven-day extension debate regarding the six-month renewal.
- Confirmation of a deal regarding the delisting of Alisher Usmanov.
confidence 85%Sources used for this update (11)
- Financial Times — France in ‘astonishing’ push to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarch
- Reuters — EU envoys extend Russia sanctions by seven days to debate six-month renewal, EU presidency says
- The Kyiv Independent — All EU sanctions linked to Russia's war may expire as France, Slovakia seek to delist oligarchs
- Euronews.com — EU sanction deadlock deepens as Luxembourg complicates the picture
- CryptoRank — Bitcoin faces an October 18 test as Trump prepares new Russia tariffs
- Українська правда — EU fails to agree on extending sanctions against Putin and Lavrov
- Бабель — FT: EU proposes to keep Usmanov under sanctions, but unfreeze his assets and allow him to enter the EU
- The Kyiv Independent — France and Slovakia's threat to scupper 3,000 EU sanctions to protect two Russian oligarchs gathers steam
- Euronews.com — EU nears deal to break impasse over French request to delist Usmanov
- PressReader — 'Immoral and self-destructive' - Zelensky blasts EU for considering lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs
- Українська правда — EU ambassadors once again fail to extend sanctions against Putin and Ukraine’s ex-president Yanukovych
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