Archive · 22 Sep 2026
EU Foreign Policy Chief Urges Continued Russia Sanctions Amid Dispute
The European Union has sanctions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine.
Sanctions are rules meant to make it harder for Russia to get money or do business.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the sanctions should continue.
She also said the EU is working on another package of sanctions.
However, EU countries have not agreed on everything.
Some countries want Alisher Usmanov removed from the sanctions list.
Luxembourg said Mikhail Fridman should also be removed if Usmanov is removed.
The countries will keep negotiating before the deadline.
Kaja Kallas urged EU member states to maintain sanctions targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Kallas said sanctions are a core part of the EU’s response and aim to deprive Moscow of funding.
EU countries failed to finalize an extension involving possible delistings of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
France and Slovakia supported removing Usmanov, while Luxembourg linked his case to Fridman’s.
Negotiations will continue before a late-Tuesday deadline covering sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities.
- Who
- Kaja Kallas and EU member states, including France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg.
- What
- EU countries are negotiating whether to extend sanctions on Russia and whether to remove Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the blacklist.
- When
- The discussions took place Monday, with a deadline late Tuesday for extending the sanctions regime.
- Where
- Kallas spoke in New York after a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers; further negotiations are set to continue in Brussels.
- Why
- Kallas said the sanctions are intended to deprive Moscow of funding and remain a core part of the EU’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Maintain sanctions
Seek selected delistings
Extension of Russia sanctions
Maintain sanctions
Kaja Kallas urged EU members to extend the sanctions, saying they provide stability and help deprive Moscow of funding.
Seek selected delistings
Some EU member states are seeking changes to the sanctions regime rather than agreeing immediately to a full rollover.
Blacklisting of Usmanov and Fridman
Maintain sanctions
Keeping the individuals on the blacklist would preserve the existing sanctions framework while the EU responds to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Seek selected delistings
France and Slovakia supported removing Alisher Usmanov, while Luxembourg argued that Mikhail Fridman should also be removed if Usmanov is delisted.
- Sanctions scope
- Almost 3,000 individuals and entities are covered by the sanctions extension discussions.
- EU position
- Kaja Kallas said the EU’s position on sanctions against Russia has not changed.
- Possible delistings
- EU countries failed to finalize a deal involving Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.
- Countries backing Usmanov delisting
- France and Slovakia pushed for Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the blacklist.
- Luxembourg’s position
- Luxembourg said sanctions should also be lifted for Mikhail Fridman if they are lifted for Usmanov.
- Next steps
- Negotiations are set to continue in Brussels ahead of the late-Tuesday deadline.