Czech PM: EU is convinced that sanctions against Russia are working

The EU and the United States are convinced that the sanctions they have so far imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine are working, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told reporters in Brussels on Friday, the second day of the EC summit, adding that their impact on Moscow was not expected to be immediate.

Mr Fiala also said the European Commission was preparing another, already fifth package of sanctions, which would expand and refine the current measures.  Prior to the summit, some EU member states called for a significant tightening of the current measures against Russia, including an embargo on Russian gas and oil supplies to the EU.