European Union member states failed to agree on a ninth package of sanctions against Russia in talks late on Wednesday, ahead of this year's summit of EU leaders, Reuters reported, citing diplomats.

 The countries moved closer to a deal in talks on Wednesday, but Poland and some other countries still have objections, one EU diplomat said, adding that a new draft was expected to be circulated on Thursday evening.

 New sanctions on Moscow have been delayed by disagreements over whether the EU should make it easier to export Russian fertilizer through European ports, even when the fertilizer companies are owned by blacklisted oligarchs.

 Some say the EU restrictions threaten the countries' food security, while others argue that loosening them would allow Russian oligarchs who own fertilizer companies to avoid EU sanctions against them.

 One EU diplomat said Poland and the Baltic states are telling other countries that they are fooling themselves if they think the relaxation on Russian fertilizers will not be used as a loophole for oligarchs.

 Some member states want the World Food Program to be involved in deciding the export of fertilizers to countries that need them.