{
  "id": 8898850,
  "title": "France and Slovakia's threat to scupper 3,000 EU sanctions to protect two Russian oligarchs gathers steam",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/france-and-slovakias-threat-to-scupper-3-000-eu-sanctions-to-protect",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T10:26:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Kyiv Independent",
    "slug": "kyiv-independent",
    "url": "https://kyivindependent.com/france-and-slovakias-threat-to-scupper-3-000-eu-sanctions-to-protect-two-russian-oligarchs-gathers-steam/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A dispute has emerged among EU countries over a proposal to drop EU sanctions against two Russian oligarchs as part of the bloc's 3,000 sanctions against Russia's war on Ukraine. The French and Slovakian governments have led the push to delist Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. If the 12-month deadline for renewing the sanctions is not met unanimously, the sanctions will expire entirely. Slovakia has long demanded the delisting of the two oligarchs but France's recent support has taken them by surprise. The deadlock has led to tense negotiations among EU diplomats, with some reportedly beginning to cave to the French-Slovak demand on the brink of the deadline. Ukraine's sanctions envoy criticized the discussions, stating that sanction delisting while the war continues sends a wrong signal. Delisting alone may be seen as temporary pressure, and the envoy emphasized the need for accountability and changes in Russia's behavior.",
  "summary": "\"We will be asking for things in return if it goes that way,\" one EU diplomat told the Kyiv Independent.",
  "key_points": [
    "France and Slovakia seek to delist Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman from EU sanctions.",
    "EU sanctions against Russia face deadline, with unanimous agreement crucial to maintain them.",
    "Ukraine's sanctions envoy warns delisting sends wrong signal amid ongoing war."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Russian military targets Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses and ports in drone strikes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/russian-military-targets-ukrainian-logistics-hubs-warehouses-and",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:37:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Kallas proposes sanctions against organizers of Russian 'elections' in occupied Ukrainian territories",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/kallas-proposes-sanctions-against-organizers-of-russian-elections-in",
        "published": "2026-09-21T08:56:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}