EU Extends Russia Sanctions for 7 Days Amid Dispute Over Delistings

EU member states extended sanctions tied to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine for another seven days, following Friday’s failure to reach an agreement amid calls to delist Russian-Uzbek oligarch Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, co-founder of Russia’s Alfa Bank. The EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) approved the temporary extension at a meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, just one day before the sanctions were set to expire on Tuesday, Sept. 15.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Coreper agreed to extend the regime for 7 days – until midnight Tuesday, Sept. 22,” a spokesperson for the Irish presidency told Ukrinform. “Currently, legal procedures are being completed to enter into force on this decision.” “The consultations will continue, and in the near future this issue will be submitted for consideration again,” the spokesperson noted. The latest decision gives EU ambassadors additional time to assess proposals for renewing the restrictions, and it comes after a second failure by the EU ambassadors to agree on renewing the Western sanctions. On Friday, France joined Slovakia in seeking the removal of Umanov from the sanctions list, according to four EU diplomats cited by Euronews. “Slovakia still wants Usmanov and Fridman delisted, but the issue is now further complicated as France also wants Usmanov off the blacklist,” Rikard Jozwiak, Radio Liberty’s editor, said separately in a statement on X. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Signs a Decree Ousting Kravchenko as Prosecutor General The decree was issued under martial-law provisions after Zelensky urged parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, to support Kravchenko’s removal without delay. While Usmanov built his wealth through investments in technology, metals and mining, Fridman – an Israeli-Russian businessman born in Ukraine – built one of Russia’s largest private business groups. Both have been linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the military-industrial system supporting Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Currently, the sanctions list covers more than 3,000 individuals and entities connected to Russia’s regime, and is expected to grow, particularly due to renewed frustrations over Russia’s escalating hybrid threats, including drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and repeated drone incursions in NATO airspace. The restrictions are renewed every six months, although EU members have discussed moving to a 12-month cycle after extending sectoral sanctions for a year in July. “Continuing sanctions lists is vital in order to undermine the capabilities of Russia’s military vehicle and put pressure on those who support, ensure or benefit from this aggression,” the Irish Presidency said according to Ukrinform. “This remains an absolute priority for our presidency,” it concluded. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.