EU sanctions extension hits fresh deadlock over Russian oligarch dispute

The Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU member states failed on the morning of September 21 to reach an agreement on extending the bloc’s individual sanctions against Russia.

Several EU diplomats noted that discussions on extending the sanctions imposed over violations of Ukraine’s territorial integrity will continue in the afternoon.

The current sanctions regime, which the EU began compiling in 2014, covers individuals and legal entities responsible for actions that undermine or threaten Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

On September 14, the EU extended the sanctions regime for one week, with the current measures set to expire at midnight on September 22.

The dispute stems from demands by France and Slovakia, backed by Croatia and Italy, to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the sanctions list.

By Jeyhun Aghazada