The European Union reached an agreement on an 18th sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine, with a raft of measures aimed at dealing further blows to Russia's oil and energy industry.

The European Union on Friday reached an agreement to impose its 18th round of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine after Slovakia ended its protest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the EU for the 18th package of sanctions targeting Russia, and called for further punitive measures against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine over three years ago.