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Coverage dated September 21, 2026 to September 23, 2026

EU renews Russia sanctions but grudgingly drops 2 oligarchs from list

Headline from Courthouse News Service, on the newest of 2 developments

France and Luxembourg caused consternation by getting sanctions lifted against two Russian billionaires. Critics worry Europe's resolve is weakening.

Courthouse News Service's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. No green light to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarchs, talks to resume

    Headline from WFMZ Allentown ·

  2. Newest

    EU renews Russia sanctions but grudgingly drops 2 oligarchs from list

    Headline from Courthouse News Service ·

2 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

13 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Kyiv Independent

    France and Slovakia's threat to scupper 3,000 EU sanctions to protect two Russian oligarchs gathers steam (opens The Kyiv Independent)

    Published

    The Kyiv Independent's feed description

    "We will be asking for things in return if it goes that way," one EU diplomat told the Kyiv Independent.

  2. WFMZ Allentown

    No green light to lift EU sanctions on Russian oligarchs, talks to resume (opens WFMZ Allentown)

    Published

    WFMZ Allentown's feed description

    EU countries failed Monday to finalise a deal that involved lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, with negotiations to continue in Brussels, diplomats said.

  3. France 24

    EU fails to agree on lifting sanctions on Russian oligarchs (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    EU countries failed Monday to reach a final deal that would remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc's sanctions list, with diplomats set to resume talks Tuesday.

  4. The Kyiv Independent

    Latvia gives in to France's demands to lift EU sanctions on two Russian oligarchs, diplomats say (opens The Kyiv Independent)

    Published

    The Kyiv Independent's feed description

    "What signal does this send? Frankly, astonishing and embarrassing," said Ukraine's sanctions chief Vladyslav Vlasiuk on social media.

  5. Financial Times

    EU to lift sanctions on two Russian oligarchs (opens Financial Times)

    Published

    Financial Times's feed description

    Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov removed from bloc’s list under deal to extend curbs for three years

  6. The Kyiv Independent

    Who are Usmanov and Fridman, the Russian oligarchs France helped remove from the EU sanctions list? (opens The Kyiv Independent)

    Published

    The Kyiv Independent's feed description

    The European Union is expected to lift sanctions on two high-profile Russian oligarchs — Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The ruling will come after days of intense negotiations that could have seen the entire package of EU sanctions, imposed since 2022, go to waste.

  7. The Guardian

    EU removes oligarchs from Russia sanctions list as deadline looms (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman delisted in what Ireland’s EU presidency called ‘a difficult compromise’ for the bloc The EU has agreed to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and c…

  8. BBC News

    Ukraine anger as EU removes Russian oligarchs from sanctions list (opens BBC News)

    Published

    BBC News's feed description

    Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman both have close ties to President Putin, and Kyiv said the move sent Moscow the wrong signals.

  9. Deutsche Welle

    EU drops sanctions for Russian oligarchs Usmanov and Fridman (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    France and Luxembourg were behind the sanctions exemptions for Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, a move that Kyiv labeled "shameful and unjustifiable."

  10. Euromaidan Press

    $16 bn or lives of Ukrainians: Kyiv is furious after EU took two of Russia’s richest men off its sanctions list (opens Euromaidan Press)

    Published

    Euromaidan Press's feed description

    Usmanov and Fridman were dropped over a prisoner deal and a $16bn lawsuit.

  11. France 24

    Europe lifts sanctions against two Russians (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    The EU has agreed to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine for another three years.

  12. Washington Examiner

    France kowtows to Putin and removes EU sanctions on Russian mobster (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    President Emmanuel Macron of France deserves heavy criticism for removing European Union sanctions on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top allies, Alisher Usmanov. As the Financial Times reports, France was willing to blow up the EU’s entire Russian sanctions regime unless the EU waived san…

  13. Courthouse News Service

    EU renews Russia sanctions but grudgingly drops 2 oligarchs from list (opens Courthouse News Service)

    Published

    Courthouse News Service's feed description

    France and Luxembourg caused consternation by getting sanctions lifted against two Russian billionaires. Critics worry Europe's resolve is weakening.

EU renews Russia sanctions but grudgingly drops 2 oligarchs from list | Since Then