Diplomats from the EU said that on Friday, the European Union was unable to agree to a fourteenth package of sanctions for Russia. Germany refused to accept responsibility for any sanctions violations by EU companies.

The 27 EU member states have been discussing a package of measures for over a month, including an outright ban on Russian LNG transshipments and plans to hold EU operators accountable for violations committed by their subsidiaries and partners abroad.

The topic of sanctions was originally scheduled to be discussed and decided on by the ambassadors on Friday evening. However, the topic has been removed from the agenda at the very last minute. The next scheduled meeting for the ambassadors is on Wednesday.

The late-Friday meeting was intended to achieve an agreement prior to a Ukraine Peace Conference in Switzerland this weekend.

Hungary, Russia’s closest EU ally was holding out but now appears willing to accept sanctions package that requires EU unanimity.

Nevertheless, EU diplomats stated that Germany expressed reservations regarding the impact of the clause on subsidiaries and partners in third countries on its industry.

The EU also planned to ban ships from its ports that had contributed to Russia's military effort.

It could be the shipment of fuels that are outside of the G7 price caps, or the transportation of goods that generate significant revenue for Russia. Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Jan Strupczewski; editing by Andrew Heavens