EU to approve 20th package of anti-Russian sanctions in Feb - Kallas

BRUSSELS. Jan 13 (Interfax) - The European Union is expecting to approve its 20th package of sanctions on Russia in February, EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday.

"We are also advancing the 20th sanctions package and aim to finalize it next month," Kallas told a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

As well as increasing pressure on Russia, the EU is also supporting Kiev, to which it will allocate a 90 billion euro loan to support Ukraine's defense and the work of its state apparatus, she said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Euractiv reported, citing a source, that the new EU sanctions on Russia were expected by February 24.

Finland and Sweden urged the European Commission to impose a stricter ban on luxury goods exports to Russia, outlaw the servicing of Russian oil tankers and reduce EU quotas on Russian fertilizer imports, Euractiv reported.