France has advocated for the lifting of European Union sanctions on Alisher Usmanov, DW sources reported. According to them, this was the reason why the EU member states' ambassadors were unable to reach an agreement on extending the existing sanctions against Russia for violating Ukraine's territorial integrity on September 11. An EU diplomat told DW that negotiations will continue, with a new meeting of ambassadors expected on September 14, one day before the sanctions regime is set to expire. As sources in Brussels explained to DW on the condition of anonymity, the disagreements are related to Slovakia's push for the exclusion of Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list. Additionally, France is also advocating for Usmanov's exclusion. Sanctions against individuals and organizations from Russia, which the EU considers involved in the war against Ukraine, are renewed every six months. The EU planned to extend this period to at least a year, but Slovakia opposes this. Its Prime Minister Robert Fico is known for his pro-Russian views. Furthermore, Bratislava is calling for the lifting of sanctions against Usmanov and Fridman, Deutsche Welle reports.
