EU deadlocked as France pushes to remove Russian businessman from sanctions list
EU member states have reached a deadlock over France's push, joined by Slovakia, to remove Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from the bloc's sanctions blacklist, with Brussels demanding explanations from Paris.
European Union member states have failed to reach agreement over a French push to remove Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov from the bloc's sanctions list. Paris has joined Slovakia, which had already called for Usmanov to be struck off the EU blacklist.
Brussels seeks explanations
According to available reports, the EU side has demanded that France provide answers regarding its position on the matter. The standoff points to deeper disagreements among member states over how to handle individuals currently listed under the EU's sanctions regime targeting Russia.
Amending the EU sanctions list typically requires unanimous agreement among member states, meaning the stance taken by individual countries — in this case France and Slovakia — can affect the wider decision-making process. Should one or more member states succeed in securing the removal of a specific individual, it could set a precedent for similar requests in the future.
It remains unclear whether and when the dispute will be resolved, or whether Usmanov will ultimately be removed from the EU sanctions list. The matter remains an open point of internal EU discussion and reflects broader tension among member states over maintaining a unified approach to sanctions policy.
