EU Agrees Fresh Sanctions On Russia Over Ukraine War, Diplomats Say

French President Emmanuel Macron attends an EU leaders' summit in Brussels on December 15.

The European Union has agreed on a fresh round of sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine after complaints from hawkish Eastern European leaders that some countries were trying to water them down.

Diplomats said a compromise deal -- thought to include targeting some 200 individuals -- was reached on the sidelines of a leaders' summit in Brussels and that the sanctions would be formally confirmed on December 16.

Countries had moved closer to a deal in negotiations on December 14, but Poland and some other countries still had objections.

Fresh sanctions on Moscow had been held up over whether the EU should make it easier for Russian fertilizer exports to pass through European ports, even if the fertilizer companies are owned by blacklisted oligarchs.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters