EU Removes Usmanov and Fridman From Sanctions List Amid Member State Dispute

The European Union imposed sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman as part of its broader response to Russia's actions in Ukraine. These measures targeted hundreds of influential Russians with asset freezes and travel bans. As the deadline for renewing the sanctions approached in September 2026, discussions began on whether to keep or remove certain individuals from the list. France led efforts to remove Usmanov, reportedly tying the move to negotiations for the release of French citizens detained in Azerbaijan. This proposal immediately drew sharp criticism from several EU members and Ukraine.

On September 21, 2026, Lithuania's finance minister told Euronews that Vilnius was firmly against France's push to remove Usmanov from the sanctions list, warning it would make the EU appear weak. The same day, Ukraine's foreign minister condemned the proposal, saying it would undermine diplomatic pressure on Moscow, according to Arab News.

Despite the strong objections, France continued its efforts, reportedly motivated by a deal with Azerbaijan to secure the release of French prisoners. This led to a stalemate among EU diplomats, with several rounds of talks failing to reach consensus, as AP reported on September 22.

Eventually, a compromise emerged. To avoid the entire sanctions regime expiring, the EU agreed to France's request to remove Usmanov and also dropped Fridman from the list. In exchange, the bloc secured a three-year renewal of its sanctions against around 3,000 other Russian individuals and organizations. Outlets including Euronews and ARD Tagesschau confirmed this last-minute agreement on September 22.

Ukraine reacted angrily, calling the decision shameful and warning that Russia would celebrate the move. Some EU states also expressed concern that the removal of the two oligarchs could weaken the effectiveness of the sanctions.

The EU's Russia sanctions have now been extended for three years, a longer term than previous renewals. Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman are no longer on the bloc's sanctions list. The decision came after intense debate and was primarily driven by diplomatic concerns and the need to avoid a total collapse of the sanctions regime. Ukraine and several EU members remain deeply dissatisfied with the outcome, and the controversy has exposed continued divisions within the EU over how to handle Russia.

It remains to be seen whether individual EU states will impose their own national sanctions on Usmanov and Fridman, as some have suggested. The political fallout from this decision could affect future EU unity on Russia policy and relations with Ukraine.