European Union member states have approved an extension of sanctions targeting Russian and Belarusian individuals and entities for undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, diplomatic sources confirmed. The extension, for another six months, was initially blocked by Slovakia and Hungary, though two names were ultimately removed from the sanctions list. Without confirmation, the sanctions would have expired Sunday evening. They are now extended through September 15.
Slovakia had sought the removal of Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov from the list, with Hungary supporting that request. According to the Czech News Agency, two names were ultimately removed, but neither Fridman nor Usmanov were among them. The identities of those removed have not yet been disclosed. Five individuals who have since died were as well removed from the list, the Council of the EU confirmed in a statement.
The EU’s sanctions list now includes approximately 2,600 individuals and entities, subject to asset freezes and travel bans. The EU has stated these sanctions are in response to the actions of these persons and entities in undermining Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
Diplomats worked to secure the agreement of Budapest and Bratislava right up to the deadline when extending these sanctions last September, and again in March. Last year, four names were removed from the list as part of a compromise – billionaire Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, Russian Minister of Sport and head of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev, and Gulbahor Ismailova, sister of billionaire Alisher Usmanov. The fourth individual removed was businessman Vladimir Rashevsky, who successfully challenged the EU sanctions against him in court.
Hungary is currently also blocking approval of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, as well as a €90 billion loan to Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is requesting that Ukraine first restore the import of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. Ukraine claims the pipeline was damaged by Russian attacks, while Budapest argues that Kyiv is blocking the oil import for political reasons.
Economic sanctions against Russia, included in the various sanctions packages, also require renewal every six months. These were last extended to July 31, 2026, in December of last year.
The European Union has extended sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Russia and Belarus, a move highlighting the ongoing international effort to pressure Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. The decision, reached after last-minute negotiations, underscores the challenges of maintaining a united front among EU member states.
The extension, approved on March 14, 2026, will keep the sanctions in place until September 15. Slovakia and Hungary initially resisted the move, seeking the removal of certain individuals from the list. While concessions were made, with two names ultimately removed, neither included prominent businessmen Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, whose removal had been specifically requested by Slovakia.
In addition to the removal of two unnamed individuals, the EU also removed five people from the list who had already died, according to a statement from the Council of the EU. The sanctions list now encompasses around 2,600 individuals and entities, subjecting them to asset freezes and travel bans within the EU.
This isn’t the first time negotiations over the sanctions list have gone down to the wire. Last year, similar discussions led to the removal of four individuals – Vyacheslav Moshe Kantor, Mikhail Degtyarev, Gulbahor Ismailova, and Vladimir Rashevsky – from the list. Rashevsky had successfully challenged his inclusion in the sanctions through the EU court system.
The situation is further complicated by Hungary’s continued opposition to a new round of sanctions against Russia and a proposed €90 billion aid package for Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is demanding that Ukraine resume Russian oil imports via the Druzhba pipeline, a condition Kyiv attributes to damage caused by Russian attacks.
Alongside the individual sanctions, broader economic sanctions against Russia also require six-monthly renewals, with the most recent extension running until July 31, 2026.
