Slovakia Blocks EU Deal on Russia Sanctions List as 3,000 Names Near Expiry
EU countries have so far failed to agree on extending sanctions against around 3,000 Russian individuals and entities, with Slovakia demanding the removal of Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the list and resisting a move to lengthen renewal from six to 12 months, leaving ambassadors one day to strike a deal before the measures lapse.
The EU’s sanctions regime against Russia is facing a last-minute test of unity, with thousands of listings at risk of expiring if governments can’t bridge a political split.
Member states have yet to agree on extending restrictive measures that currently cover roughly 3,000 Russian individuals and companies. Ambassadors now have just one day to reach a deal before the current package runs out, according to accounts from the talks.
The deadlock centers on Slovakia. Bratislava is pushing to remove two high-profile businessmen, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from the sanctions list. It’s also objecting to a proposal to extend the duration of the listings from six months to 12 months. Most EU capitals oppose taking anyone off the list at this stage and support a longer renewal.
The sanctions in question freeze assets and restrict travel for people and entities accused of supporting or benefiting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They’ve become one of the EU’s main tools for raising costs on Moscow’s political and economic elites.
If the measures were to lapse because of internal disagreement, it would weaken the EU’s pressure campaign just as European and NATO leaders argue that the coming period will be decisive for Ukraine and Europe’s security. It would also send an unwelcome signal about the bloc’s ability to maintain a united line against the Kremlin.
For banks, businesses, and compliance teams across Europe, the uncertainty is already an operational problem. They depend on clear, stable designations to know whom they can do business with. A last-minute compromise that keeps the list intact would restore clarity; failure would throw many existing risk calculations into question.
The key sign to watch now is whether EU ambassadors can craft a compromise that preserves the bulk of the list while addressing Slovakia’s objections—either by handling specific names separately or by adjusting the length of the renewal. Any public comments from Bratislava or major member states, and any legal moves by Usmanov, Fridman, or others on the list, will show how this sanctions standoff is likely to break.
Sources
- OSINT