The EU has removed Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list following pressure from France and Luxembourg—France citing "national security" grounds related to a prisoner exchange involving French nationals, and Luxembourg where Fridman is suing for £12bn after his assets were frozen. To secure unanimity despite widespread opposition, member states agreed to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 individuals and entities for 36 months instead of the customary six months. Ukraine condemned the delistings as unacceptable, with President Zelenskyy warning that each sanctioned name represents a reason the war continues, whilst Ukrainian officials warned Moscow now celebrates European division and a sense of impunity.

The compromise emerged after Latvia's government raised last-minute objections on Monday, citing its parliamentary elections scheduled for 3 October, but ultimately agreed to abstain rather than veto. Ireland's EU presidency negotiated the deal under intense time pressure, arguing the extended three-year cycle would enhance stability of the sanctions framework. The broader Russian blacklist remains extensive, including President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, major banks and the military-industrial complex, with EU officials preparing approximately 1,600 new designations targeting Russia's military-industrial sector for approval next month, though analysts suggest future rounds may prove equally contentious.