EU announces 13th Russia sanction package to be adopted by Feb 24

BRUSSELS. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Simultaneously with providing support to Ukraine, the European Union is seeking to affect Russia with sanctions and expects to adopt the 13th sanction package by February 24, Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib of Belgium, which currently holds the Council of the EU presidency, said on Tuesday.

"We expect to finalize the work on the 13th sanction package by the symbolic date of February 24," Lahbib said at a European Parliament session in Strasbourg addressing the EU's support for Ukraine.

Speaking of the EU's military support for Kiev, Lahbib called for speeding up deliveries of ammunition and missiles so as to keep its promise and provide Ukraine with one million 155mm artillery rounds.

"We're still very far from that now. As forecasts show, we could reach a level of about 524,000 rounds in March. This is very far from the target we've set ourselves. We absolutely must do more and ramp up our manufacturing capacity," she said.