The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states have agreed on a ninth package of sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, and it will be approved in writing on Friday.
"The ambassadors reached agreement in principle on a sanctions package against Russia, as part of the EU's continued support for Ukraine," the Czech presidency of the EU Council said on Twitter.
The package was the third under the Czech presidency of the European Union Council and the ninth overall. It will be approved on Friday, December 16, according to a written procedure.
Head of the EC Ursula von der Leyen introduced a new package of anti-Russian sanctions on December 6. She said the European Commission is proposing to blacklist up to 200 individuals and legal entities, including three banks and companies in the military-industrial and mining sectors. The European Union also plans to prohibit the broadcasting of four more Russian TV channels and to limit exports of UAV technologies and components to Russia.
According to European media reports, Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary and several other EU countries demanded clarification of sanctions regimes that would remove fertilizers from Russia to alleviate the food crisis as part of the discussion of the ninth package of anti-Russian sanctions. The fact of this discussion refutes statements by EU leaders that European sanctions against Russia "do not affect the supply of agricultural products and fertilizers.