EU rushes to prepare new Russia sanctions before French voters can elect Marine Le Pen next year

Officials involved in the talks warn that February could be the 'last opportunity' to agree new measures before France enters campaign mode. Every package needs backing from all 27 member states, which gives any single country a veto. Marine Le Pen, the National Rally leader and frontrunner, has pledged that Ukraine would lose French support within six months of her taking office. France votes on April 18, with a run-off on May 2.

Le Pen said 'we can no longer finance Ukraine', citing France's 'perilous' deficit.

She says loans to Kyiv total €90bn, and €18bn of that falls to France.

Brussels blacklisted nearly 1,600 Russian individuals and firms on October 12.