EU fails to agree Russia sanctions rollover with one day to spare – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — EU capitals failed to extend one of the bloc’s Russia sanctions programs on Monday, five EU diplomats told POLITICO. Three of them said EU ambassadors will reconvene later Monday for further discussion.

Ambassadors meeting in Brussels needed to reach unanimous agreement on Monday because the regime — which governs the asset freezes of about 3,000 individuals and companies — expires Tuesday.

Slovakia has demanded that the bloc remove two rich Russian businessmen from the sanctions list: Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. France has reportedly attempted to create a compromise by suggesting only Usmanov be delisted.