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EU member states failed to agree on a ninth package of sanctions against Russia during talks on the topic late last night, Reuters reported, citing diplomats.

EU leaders gather in Brussels today for the last summit of the year.

The parties came close to an agreement in yesterday's talks, but Poland and some other countries still have objections, a diplomat told Reuters, adding that a new proposal on the matter was expected to be sent tonight.

The EC presented a proposal for more sanctions against Moscow

New sanctions against Moscow have been delayed by disagreements over whether the EU should facilitate the export of Russian fertilizer through European ports, even if the fertilizer companies are owned by blacklisted oligarchs.

Some countries say the EU restrictions threaten the food security of developing countries, while others say loosening them would allow Russian oligarchs who own fertilizer companies to circumvent sanctions.

A European diplomat said Poland and the Baltic states told other countries they were fooling themselves if they thought oligarchs would not abuse a loosening of Russian fertilizer rules.

Some member countries want the World Food Program to be involved in allowing the export of fertilizers to countries in need.

sanctions on Russia