The European Union has agreed on the ninth package of sanctions against Russia

The governments of the European Union have agreed on a ninth package of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported, citing European diplomats.

According to Reuters sources, the formal written approval procedure will be completed before midday on December 16. The agencies' interlocutors did not provide other details.

The approval of new restrictions has not yet been officially announced.

Earlier, diplomatic sources told Reuters that EU countries had failed to reach agreement on the ninth package of sanctions. According to the agency, the negotiators managed to get closer to an agreement, but they were unable to remove the objections of some countries, including Poland.

The disagreement, among other things, was over whether the EU should ease restrictions on the export of Russian fertilizers through European ports even for companies owned by Russian businessmen on sanctions lists.

Some European countries felt that the fertilizer restrictions threatened food security in developing countries. Others felt that easing sanctions would allow Russian fertilizer producers to circumvent the earlier restrictions.

"There are still exceptions. But they are specified in such a way that each member state (of the EU) can take into account its national security interests," said Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak.

• The European Commission announced new sanctions in early December. The list of restrictions will reportedly include restrictions on the export of certain categories of goods, including dual-use goods and electronics, a ban on the export of parts for the production of drones to Russia and to third countries that may sell them to Russia.
• In addition, it was reported that four Russian TV channels were banned from broadcasting, sanctions were imposed on three Russian banks, as well as companies and individuals — military personnel, government employees and State Duma deputies. According to EUobserver, the restrictions will affect TV presenters Boris Korchevnikov, Marina Kim and Sergey Mikheyev, singer Grigory Leps, blogger Dmitry "Goblin" Puchkov, director Nikita Mikhalkov, as well as members of the family of businessman Yuri Kovalchuk.