# France and Slovakia’s threat to scupper 3,000 EU sanctions to protect two Russian oligarchs gathers steam

https://mins.news/en/item/67181

- The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-21 10:26 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://kyivindependent.com/france-and-slovakias-threat-to-scupper-3-000-eu-sanctions-to-protect-two-russian-oligarchs-gathers-steam/

> EU ambassadors are trying to resolve a standoff over France and Slovakia’s demand to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s sanctions list. Without unanimous approval for a 12-month renewal, all 3,000 Russia-related sanctions could lapse. Diplomats say some countries are yielding, but no consensus has yet been reached.

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- [Russia Europe Sanctions and Retaliation](https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-europe-sanctions-and-retaliation) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-europe-sanctions-and-retaliation.md

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