EU foreign ministers won't discuss new Russia sanctions at Council meeting on Jan 23 - official

BRUSSELS. Jan 20 (Interfax) - The European Union's Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will not discuss new sanctions on Russia on January 23, a high-ranking EU official told journalists in Brussels on Friday.

Speaking to journalists on the condition of anonymity to inform them of the agenda of a FAC meeting on Monday, the official said that, while he was confident that the member states have some ideas regarding sanctions, he could not comment on sectors to which they could apply.

Nine Russia sanction packages are currently in effect, and the EU is focused on their proper application and on countering attempts to circumvent them around the world, the official said. While the EU is planning to study options for new sanctions, this is not expected to happen at the FAC meeting on Monday, the official said, adding that he was not in a position to say exactly when this could happen.

At the same time, the official said the events in Ukraine and the EU's assistance to Kiev, including military assistance, would be among the top priorities on the Council of the EU's agenda.