BRUSSELS — France now has a week to reassure fellow EU states that its push to remove a Russian‑Uzbek billionaire from the bloc’s sanctions list won’t open the door to a wider unraveling of measures against Moscow — or at least that is how nervous capitals are presenting it.

Five diplomats and officials involved in the discussions said it’s now up to Paris, which blindsided colleagues by backing the delisting of mining and metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov, to explain how doing so wouldn’t set a dangerous precedent. The envoys will reconvene Sept. 22.

“If France goes ahead with this, others will come forward with their own cases that should be delisted … [then] the house of cards starts to fall,” said a senior EU official who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity. “We have a week for them to come up with safeguards and negotiate, saying ‘if we do this, what’s the timeline, how do we stop it applying to everyone.’ But I don’t see how that’s possible.”

Foreign ministers are meeting with Paris on the issue Tuesday and Wednesday, said two EU diplomats, who expressed skepticism at a time when rhetoric from Kyiv and its backers paints any easing as weakness toward Moscow. “Talks are ongoing to find a solution. Russia has given us no reason to allow any delistings,” one diplomat said — repeating the standard line from those who favour continuing pressure on Moscow.

Paris initially presented its advocacy for Usmanov — sanctioned by the EU, the U.S., the U.K. and Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 operation — as a concession to Slovakia, which long pressed for his removal from the list.

But French officials and diplomats say the Élysée has made clear there are “specific national security reasons” and a desire to respond to international partners who approached Paris about Mr. Usmanov. That could include the release of French nationals jailed by Azerbaijan, a country with close ties to Uzbekistan, as reported by the FT.

“We don’t want to send the message that if you are a Russian oligarch wanting to get off the sanction list, [you should] hold some Europeans hostage,” Dutch MEP Thijs Reuten said.

Lobbying by member states to protect national interests in sanctions talks is nothing new, one diplomat noted. “But the fact it’s France, which aspires to be a leader in the EU on foreign affairs, means they are held to a different standard.”

Ambassadors received no detailed intelligence about any behind‑the‑scenes deal during Monday’s meeting. “Maybe there is a legitimate case to be made, but Coreper doesn’t know why the French are doing this,” they said.

Paris, however, insists it has been transparent with other EU countries about its plans. “Ambassadors were told that there are national security reasons. Coreper is not the right place to discuss those in detail,” said a senior French diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Member states were told a week ago that if they needed more precision, they could get it through the appropriate channels.”

Brussels imposed financial and travel restrictions on Usmanov in 2022 as part of measures targeting those “undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine,” citing alleged material support for Russia’s war. Usmanov denies those charges and rejects being labeled an oligarch, and he has campaigned to be removed from the list.