Europe live with Jakub KrupaWorld news EU deadlocked on changes to Russia sanctions ahead of key Ukraine, Greenland talks - Europe live Without an agreement sanctions on nearly 3,000 entities accused of supporting the war on Ukraine will lapse at the end of the day LIVE Updated 14m ago Jakub Krupa Tue 22 Sep 2026 10.31 BSTFirst published on Tue 22 Sep 2026 10.11 BST Share Key events 14m ago Macron, Zelenskyy discuss Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter 30m ago EU deadlocked over plans to remove two Russian billionaires from sanctions list 33m ago Morning opening: Welcome to New York Russia's president Vladimir Putin oversees naval drills From 33m ago Global leaders are gathering in New York this week for the 81st UN general assembly and given the state of the world, it’s likely to be a lively one.
We are expecting to hear today from the US president, Donald Trump, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb, and France’s Emmanuel Macron (in his last UNGA appearance), among others.
Macron got to New York early and already held talks with Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy last night, possibly trying to mediate ahead of the pair’s closely watched meeting later today.
Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to sit down together in the late afternoon or early evening.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron in New York, USA.
Expect potentially diverging interpretations of what the deal actually involves… Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's government leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen visit the 9/11 memorial and Ground Zero in New York.
More on that shortly.
Lots for us to cover today.
It’s Tuesday, 22 September 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events 14m ago Macron, Zelenskyy discuss Russia's strikes on energy infrastructure ahead of winter 30m ago EU deadlocked over plans to remove two Russian billionaires from sanctions list 33m ago Morning opening: Welcome to New York During their last night’s meeting, France’s Macron and Ukraine’s Zelenskyy discussed Russia’s continuing strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which the French president said “threaten to deprive millions of families of heating and electricity.” Volodymyr Zelenskiy meets Emmanuel Macron in New York “France will stand by Ukraine to face the winter, and the G7 Energy will also be mobilised at its side,” Macron added.
He also said: “We are strengthening its air defence with the signing of a contract for the delivery of radars, as well as the supply of interceptors.
I also discussed this support with President Trump, as well as the prospect of an energy truce and a moratorium in the Black Sea, which we support.
This will be a key issue in the negotiations that must resume and that must lead to a just and lasting peace.” Zelenskyy added that the pair “spoke primarily about security and the winter support package for Ukraine.” But just hours after their discussions we received further reports of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s oil and gas facilities, including in Poltava region.
Largest Ukrainian oil and gas company, Naftogaz, said the attack using ballistic missiles caused “critical damage” to the site, effectively making it impossible to restore it, Reuters reported. in Brussels The EU is deadlocked over a plan to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list as part of a bitterly disputed deal to keep broader restrictions in place on nearly 3,000 people and companies accused of enabling Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Russian businessman and founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia in 2018.
The senior diplomats will reconvene later today just hours ahead of a legal deadline.
Without an agreement sanctions on nearly 3,000 people and entities accused of supporting the war on Ukraine will lapse at the end of Tuesday 22 September.
The list includes Vladimir Putin, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, Duma deputies, Russia’s major banks, energy companies and military industrial complex.
The EU can also agree a short-term extension pending a longer agreement and has already prolonged the deadline by one week.
One diplomat suggested that was a likely outcome.
Latvia emerged as the last-minute block on an agreement.
Like many member states the Baltic state has strong objections to the de-listings, which are demanded by France and Slovakia.
Latvia’s prime minister Andris Kulbergs tweeted late Monday night that he could not accept the proposed compromise – the de-listings of Usmanov and Fridman in exchange for a 36-month extension of the blacklist of nearly 3,000 names, far longer than the usual six-month rollover.
He said: “Extending sanctions for 36 months would be the right step.
However, the price for it must not be simply striking both individuals from the sanctions list.
Latvia cannot accept SUCH an offer.” Latvian prime minister Andris Kulbergs attends the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finland last week.
We will seek support in the EUROPEAN UNION for Latvia’s position”.
When details of the expected deal emerged on Monday, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said the delisting was “unacceptable and would send the wrong signal to Moscow at a time when pressure needs to increase”.
France infuriated and stunned EU member states by joining Slovakia’s populist government in petitioning for Usmanov’s de-listing earlier this month.
France has told EU diplomats only that the delisting is on national security grounds.
The Financial Times has reported that it is linked to a prisoner exchange deal with Azerbaijan involving the release of French nationals.
Azerbaijan, along with the Organisation of Turkic States, has previously lobbied western decision-makers to remove Usmanov from sanctions listings, describing him as “a renowned philanthropist” who has built bridges between the West, Central Asia and wider Turkic world.
Slovakia began lobbying for Usmanov and fellow billionaire Mikhail Fridman to be removed from the EU sanctions list in the summer.
Luxembourg has argued that Fridman should come off the list, if Usmanov is removed.
Fridman is seeking $16bn in damages from Luxembourg for freezing his assets.
Global leaders are gathering in New York this week for the 81st UN general assembly and given the state of the world, it’s likely to be a lively one.
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