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EU Fails to Renew Russia Sanctions as Slovakia Seeks to Protect Russian Oligarchs
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European Union ambassadors meeting in Brussels failed on September 14 to renew one of the bloc's core Russia sanctions schemes, leaving the measure a single day from expiry.
Five EU diplomats told POLITICO about the deadlock, and three noted that ambassadors would reconvene later that same day for further discussion.
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Unanimous agreement was required on Monday because the regime—which governs asset freezes on roughly 3,000 individuals and companies— expires Tuesday, according to POLITICO.
Slovakia has demanded that the bloc strike two Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from the sanctions list, the diplomats told POLITICO. France has reportedly sought to broker a compromise by proposing that only Usmanov be delisted.
France reportedly attempted to reach a compromise by suggesting that only Usmanov be delisted.
Most other capitals were unwilling to consider removing anyone while Russia fires record numbers of missiles at Ukrainian civilian targets, the report noted.
One of the diplomats stated that "against the backdrop of rising hybrid threats and Russian drone attacks only 1 kilometer from the Polish border, it's hard to believe that France is actually asking for this."
A further dispute centers on the length of any extension. Since 2014 the measures have customarily been renewed for six months, though some capitals now favor a 12-month rollover. Slovakia is understood to be unwilling to back the longer period, POLITICO reported.
The standoff comes after months of steadily expanding EU measures against Moscow.
In mid-August the bloc was preparing its largest sanctions effort to date, aiming to enlarge the blacklist by roughly a third and push the total number of listed individuals, companies, and organizations close to 3,000.
European restrictions were estimated by then to have cost Russia more than $1.08 trillion, while the package enacted on July 23 designated 170 entities and 48 individuals, including major banks, cryptocurrency networks, and shadow-fleet vessels.
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