France, Feb. 19 -- EU envoys have agreed on a series of bans onRussian imports in a new sanctions package, as heads of states prepare to meet again in Paris to discuss the future of European security and of the war in Ukraine.

EU envoys agreed on a 16th package of sanctions againstRussia on Wednesday, EU diplomats said, including a ban on primary aluminium imports, sales of gaming consoles and the listing of 73 shadow fleet vessels.

The package, which largely sticks to theEuropean Commission's proposal, is expected to be adopted by EU foreign ministers next week, to mark the third anniversary ofRussia'sinvasion of Ukraine.

"The EU is clamping down even harder on circumvention by targeting more vessels in Putin's shadow fleet and imposi...