Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it favored new sanctions against three additional Russian banks and new export controls and restrictions, especially for dual-use goods like key chemicals, nerve agents, electronics and IT components.

A group of EU member nations, including Poland and the Baltic nations, have pushed for Brussels to set a ninth package of punitive measures against Russia.

Meanwhile, Hungary has opposed the sanctions policy, calling them a step towards war and ineffective in solving the Ukraine conflict.

Russia, on the other hand, reiterated the ninth package of sanctions, far from avoiding the conflict, distances the possibilities of dialogue.

pll/ro/fvt