France Blocks EU Russia Sanctions Over Billionaire Usmanov
France Blocks EU Russia Sanctions Over Billionaire Usmanov
In a stunning and unexpected move that has shocked Brussels, France has joined Slovakia in blocking the renewal of European Union individual sanctions against Russia. The move threatens to cause nearly 3,000 Russia sanctions to expire this week.
On Monday morning, 14 September 2026, EU ambassadors meeting in COREPER, the committee of permanent representatives, failed to reach unanimous agreement to extend individual sanctions that blacklist nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and companies for their role in the war against Ukraine. The sanctions legally expire at midnight on 15 September 2026.
Why France Is Blocking the Sanctions
According to multiple EU diplomats who spoke to Politico and Reuters, France is demanding that Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov be removed from the EU blacklist.
Alisher Usmanov is one of Russia's richest men, with a net worth of $18.8 billion according to Forbes. He is the owner of USM Holdings, which owns major stakes in Metalloinvest, Russia's largest iron ore producer, MegaFon, Russia's second-largest telecom operator, and Kommersant, a major Russian newspaper. He also previously owned stakes in Arsenal Football Club.
France told other EU ambassadors that it has a "specific national security issue" related to Usmanov and wants to respond positively to approaches from international partners who have raised his case. France did not publicly name which international partners approached it, but diplomats speculate it could be related to Uzbekistan or other Central Asian states where France has growing economic interests.
Usmanov was first sanctioned by the EU in February 2022, shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, on the grounds that he is a leading oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin and has actively supported the Russian government.
Slovakia, which has taken a more pro-Russian stance under Prime Minister Robert Fico, is also blocking renewal. Slovakia wants Russian banker Mikhail Fridman removed from the list. Slovakia has previously threatened to veto EU sanctions on Russia.
What Happens If Sanctions Expire?
The consequences of failure to renew are enormous. The individual sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans on nearly 3,000 people, including oligarchs, military officials, politicians, and companies that supply the Russian army. If the sanctions lapse, their frozen assets in Europe, worth billions of euros, would be unfrozen and they would be free to travel to the EU again.
To avoid this catastrophic scenario, the Irish presidency of the EU, which currently holds the rotating presidency, announced on Monday that the deadline has been extended by seven days until 22 September 2026. This gives diplomats one week to negotiate a compromise.
A second emergency meeting of EU ambassadors is scheduled for Monday evening at 8pm Brussels time to try again. Diplomats say France is under intense pressure from Germany, Poland and the Baltic states to drop its objection.
Shock in Brussels
The French move has caused shock in Brussels because France has been one of the strongest supporters of sanctions against Russia since 2022. President Emmanuel Macron has been a leading voice for supporting Ukraine. EU officials say they were blindsided by France raising this at the last minute.
Some diplomats suggest France may be using Usmanov as leverage for another issue, or may have received legal advice that Usmanov's listing is vulnerable to a court challenge in the European Court of Justice, as several other Russian oligarchs have successfully challenged their sanctions.
In related news, France also condemned on Monday the Russian drone strike that hit a passenger train near Poland, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying it was an attempt to intimidate Europeans.
Background on EU Sanctions
The EU has imposed 14 packages of sanctions on Russia since February 2022, targeting oil, gas, banking, and technology. The individual blacklist is separate and must be renewed unanimously every six months. It has always been renewed without major drama until today.
The current deadlock shows growing fatigue and division within the EU over Russia sanctions, especially as Hungary and Slovakia become more vocal opponents. The outcome of the 22 September deadline will be critical for EU unity on Ukraine.
Stay tuned to CampusLinc for the result of tonight's emergency EU meeting.
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