EU sanctions rollover blocked by Slovak demand to delist Usmanov; Paris backs Bratislava

EU ambassadors failed to agree on renewing the Russia sanctions package, with Slovakia demanding the delisting of oligarch Alisher Usmanov and France supporting Bratislava. One negotiating session remains before all sanctions expire automatically, creating a high-stakes deadline. The bloc's unity on Russia sanctions is now publicly fractured, and failure to renew would unwind the entire regime.