The EU has excluded the supply of Russian fertilizers from the new sanctions package.

As the WSJ writes, the agreement on the ninth package of sanctions was adopted following active lobbying on the issue of alleviating food security problems for the poorest countries by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Recently, Guterres contacted many EU leaders to convince them of the need to facilitate the transit of Russian fertilizers through EU ports. Therefore, after much discussion, EU leaders have agreed that national governments can allow the Russian Federation to supply the necessary fertilizers. However, the exemptions will only apply to individuals or legal entities associated with large Russian agri-food businesses. In addition, the shipment must be part of a UN program or destined for a developing country that is subject to UN food security priorities.