EU plans to adopt 20th sanctions package against Russia on Feb 23 – Kallas

The European Union plans to approve the 20th package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, February 23, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated.

"Next Monday, we aim to adopt the 20th package of sanctions against Russia," she said at a press conference in Krakow (Poland) on Friday following a meeting of defense ministers from the E5 Group countries.

"Sanctions are working; they are causing serious damage to the Russian economy, and each new measure further restricts its ability to wage war. Moscow is not invincible. Its army is suffering record losses, and its economy is under great pressure. But Putin will not end this war until the costs exceed the benefits. And that is exactly the point we must reach," the EU press service quoted the head of European diplomacy on its website.

On February 6, the European Commission (EC) presented the 20th package of EU sanctions against Russia. It covers energy, financial services, and trade. The EC’s legislative proposal must now be approved by the EU Council. This requires a unanimous vote of all 27 EU member states.

The E5 Group includes Poland, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany.