The European Union was unable to reach an agreement on Monday to extend one of its sanctions regimes against Russia, according to statements from five EU diplomats.
Slovakia has pushed for the EU to remove two wealthy Russian businessmen, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list. France has reportedly proposed a compromise to remove only Usmanov, but the majority of other member states are resistant to any removal amid ongoing Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets.
One diplomat remarked, “Given the increasing hybrid threats and Russian drone attacks just a kilometer from Poland’s border, it is hard to believe that France is actually requesting this.” Meanwhile, ambassadors will convene again later on Monday for further discussions.
To reach a decision, the ambassadors in Brussels must achieve unanimous consent, as the sanctions regime—which involves freezing assets of approximately 3,000 individuals and entities—is set to expire on Tuesday.
Slovakia’s Opposition
Slovakia’s request has sparked significant debate, with most other capitals unwilling to consider any name’s removal, preferring to maintain the sanctions that have been in place since 2014. The ongoing conflict has heightened sensitivity regarding potential leniency towards Russian oligarchs.
Discussions are also focused on whether to extend the measures for six months, as has been the norm, or to renew them for a full year. Slovakia remains opposed to a longer extension.
Zelensky’s Criticism
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the EU over the weekend, calling for stricter measures against Russia. In a social media post on September 12, he specifically mentioned Fridman and Usmanov, urging the EU to apply pressure on the Russian business sector rather than relaxing sanctions.
He stated, “When the Ukrainian economy is merely a target for Russia, it is certainly not the time for Europe to consider Russian oligarchs as friends. When Russia uses every euro and dollar to prolong the war, it is immoral and self-destructive to allow Russian companies to evade the consequences of the war.”
Oligarchs Close to Putin
Fridman is a co-founder of the Russian conglomerate Alfa-Group and is known to be within President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Investigative journalists revealed in May 2023 that Alfa Insurance, a subsidiary of the group, insured vehicles used by Russian forces in Ukraine, and provided services to the Main Directorate for Special Programs, responsible for Putin’s security.
Usmanov, a Russian-Uzbek businessman, built his fortune in the metallurgy and mining sectors following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He has been identified as “one of Putin’s favored oligarchs” in the EU’s initial sanctions decision in 2022.
