France Forces EU to Delist Russian Oligarchs in Last-Minute Ultimatum

The standoff pitted French national interests against the collective sanctions policy, as Paris argued that Usmanov required access to his frozen assets for security reasons. Diplomats suggest the move stems from a secret deal involving Baku and Moscow to secure the release of a French citizen detained in Azerbaijan. Luxembourg successfully pushed for Fridman’s removal to gain leverage in a €14bn arbitration case against the Grand Duchy, while other member states agreed to a three-year extension of the remaining sanctions to prevent further unilateral disruption.

The chaotic negotiations saw EU ambassadors hold five emergency meetings in two days as internal deadlines were repeatedly abandoned. Latvia, initially adamant about maintaining the status quo until its October 3 elections, eventually capitulated after intense pressure from Paris. This breakdown in consensus highlights the deepening difficulty of maintaining a unified front against Moscow, as individual member states increasingly prioritize national agendas over the integrity of EU-wide restrictive measures.