EU ambassadors fail to renew Russia sanctions ahead of Sept 15 deadline

The EU's Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) convened an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Monday, 14 September, to vote on extending individual sanctions against Russia for its violations of Ukraine's territorial integrity. The meeting ended without agreement, and a second attempt was scheduled for later the same day.

What's at stake

If the sanctions are not renewed by 15 September, they will automatically lapse for more than 3,000 individuals and entities — the vast majority of them from Russia. The restrictions were last extended on 14 March.

What is blocking consensus

Slovakia is demanding that Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov be removed from the sanctions list. France, which joined Slovakia's position on Friday 11 September, is backing the removal of Usmanov. Neither country agreed to change its stance during Monday's morning session.

Slovakia had previously pushed for the same exclusions during the March renewal, when the bloc narrowly managed to reach a deal at the last minute.

What happens next

A second Coreper session was set to take place later on 14 September, with the 15 September midnight deadline adding significant pressure to reach a deal.