EU leaders split on Ukraine membership, but agree to new sanctions on Russian oligarchs

European Union leaders are split on whether to put Ukraine firmly on the path for membership, an official with the bloc said on Wednesday, a day before heads of member states are due to discuss Kyiv's request to join quickly.

The official, who is involved in preparing the EU summit in Versailles and spoke on condition of anonymity, said all leaders were in favour of strengthening links with Ukraine.

"But the question is whether they'd find consensus for enlargement, which is sometimes more tricky," the official said. 

However, the EU did agree on Wednesday to add 160 Russian oligarchs and lawmakers to its sanctions blacklist, target crypto-assets and hit the maritime sector over Moscow's war in Ukraine, officials said.

"We are further tightening the net of sanctions responding to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine," European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen wrote in a tweet.

We are further tightening the net of sanctions responding to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine

•Listing 160 individuals: oligarchs, Russian Federation Council members
•Belarus banking sector
•Export of maritime navigation technology to Russia
•Adding crypto-assets

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 9, 2022