BRUSSELS: EU countries were scrambling Tuesday to agree a new round of sanctions on Russia, on the eve of a deadline that could weaken a key measure to tamp down Moscow’s oil revenues. Ambassadors from 27 member states were due to hold last-ditch talks in Brussels to thrash out a deal on the new package after a raft of objections held up an accord. If no agreement is found by Wednesday, then the EU could be forced to hike its price cap aimed at curbing the amount Russia can make from its global oil exports.

"Every time we make a sanctions pact, it gets a little harder," said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels on Monday to deliberate on a fresh tranche of sanctions targeting Russia