EU may extend Russia sanctions for three years if oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman are delisted
EU diplomats in Brussels are considering a compromise that would extend individual sanctions against Russia for 36 months in exchange for the removal of Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list at the insistence of Slovakia and France.
As reported by European Pravda's Brussels correspondent, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states (Coreper) is currently considering a proposal from the Irish presidency to extend sanctions against Russia over violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty for 36 months.
Meanwhile, Slovakia continues to insist that Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman be removed from the sanctions list. France also supports Usmanov's removal, citing national interests.
European Pravda sources said a compromise could be approved under which Usmanov and Fridman would be removed from the list in exchange for the extension of the sanctions regime for 36 months.
Two other individuals could also be removed from the list following a relevant court ruling, although details are yet unclear.
The Coreper meeting which is expected to finalise the decision on extending the sanctions began at 15:00 Kyiv time. Such meetings are usually held behind closed doors.
The current sanctions regime, the list for which the EU began compiling in 2014, covers individuals and legal entities responsible for actions that undermine or threaten Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Since 2022, the list has included Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, senior members of Russia's political elite, prominent oligarchs and former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.
On 14 September, Coreper extended the sanctions regime over violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty for seven days, as Slovakia and France continue to insist that two Russian oligarchs be removed from the list.
European Pravda sources in French diplomatic circles explained why Paris wants to lift sanctions on Usmanov. It later emerged that France plans to "exchange" the removal of Usmanov from sanctions lists for the release of several of its citizens who are currently in prisons in Azerbaijan.
The last extension of personal sanctions took place on 14 March. Then too, Slovakia pushed until the final hours on that occasion for Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the list.