The EU is working on yet another raft of sanctions against Russia, but the leaders made little headway. A key aim is to make further progress in blocking Russia's “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and their operators from earning more revenue for Moscow's war effort.

EU leaders agreed on Thursday to renew sanctions imposed against Russia over Moscow's war in Ukraine for another six months, two EU officials said.

The European Union countries failed to adopt the 18th sanctions package against Russia but continued with another important sanctions package targeting Russia, according to Reuters and Radio Svoboda correspondent Rikard Jozwiak.