EU 'very, very close' to imposing more sanctions on Russia

European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said she is hopeful the bloc can decide on a new sanctions package on Russia very soon.

"We are very, very close," she said, adding that she expects a decision "today or tomorrow."

EU foreign affairs ministers are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday with new sanctions on Russia and the war in Ukraine being at the top of the agenda.

The proposed set of punitive measures targets Russia's financial and energy sectors in response to President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, but not all of the EU's 27 members have so far endorsed the package.

Under the plans, the international price cap on Russian oil exports would be lowered to $45 per barrel, down from $60 per barrel, but the measure failed to receive unanimous backing at a meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced Western democracies last month.

"Even if the Americans are not onboard, but the other G7 countries are onboard, then we will move on with this," Kallas said, as she arrived to the meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers.

Kallas said she welcomed the announcement by the US that it is sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, adding that she hopes "they will get all [that] they have been promised."