The European Union failed for a second day to approve a new package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday as Slovakia continued to seek concessions over gas supplies, four EU diplomats told Reuters.

The EU's foreign policy chief also denounces that the intelligence services of Germany and the Netherlands have detected the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russian troops. The 18th package of sanctions against Russia remains unapproved in Brussels.

European ministers failed to approve tough Russia sanctions while being pressed to pay for American arms that Trump takes credit for providing.