EU delays decision on 18th sanctions package on Russia

European Union foreign affairs ministers on Tuesday failed to unanimously back the bloc's 18th package of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, after Slovakia sustained its veto.

"I'm really sad that we didn't reach this agreement today," said EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, after a ministerial meeting in Brussels with the war in Ukraine being at the top of the agenda.

The proposed set of punitive measures targets Russia's financial and energy sectors in response to President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine.

The sanctions were however put on hold after Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico last month said he is not ready to endorse the proposal, citing concerns over Slovakia's gas imports.

"I must say that we were really close to reassure Slovakia," Kallas said. "Now, the ball is in Slovakia's court, and we must get this deal done."

All of the EU's 27 members have to back new sanctions before they can be implemented.

"Stanctions are necessary to starve Russia of the means to wage this war. The European Union will keep rising the cost, so stopping its aggression becomes the only path forward to Moscow," Kallas said.

Arriving at the meeting, German Minister of State for Europe Gunther Krichbaum said the new measures should be adopted "as quickly as possible."

"It is important to take decisive action now to ensure that Russia is put under pressure and that Ukraine is put in a very strong negotiating position," he said.

"Only then will it be possible to reach a fair agreement at the end of the day."

Under the plans, the international price cap on Russian oil exports would be lowered to $45 per barrel, down from $60 per barrel, but the measure failed to receive unanimous backing at a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced Western democracies last month.

"Even if the Americans are not onboard, but the other G7 countries are onboard, then we will move on with this," Kallas said.

Kallas said she welcomed the announcement by the US that it is sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, adding that she hopes "they will get all [that] they have been promised."

EU ministers also discussed Russia's war with their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, who joined the meeting by video-link.

The situation in the Middle East was also on the agenda of the meeting, after the EU announced last week a deal with Israel on improving access to humanitarian aid in Gaza.