The European Union has started pushing for a 21st package of sanctions against Russia, the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas has said, one day after the EU adopted the 20th sanctions package against Russia over its war on Ukraine.
"We're really pushing to go on with the 21st package of sanctions," Ms Kallas told reporters ahead of an informal summit of EU leaders in Cyprus.
"It sends a very clear signal to Russia that they can't outwait us. It also sends a clear signal to Russia that Ukraine is more important to us than it is to them, and we will keep on supporting them," she said.
Watch: Sanctions send very clear signal to Russia, says Kallas
The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years. Economists had said Ukraine would start to run out of money by June if the EU loan was not disbursed by then, requiring deep cuts to public services.
Only half of the €90bn will be disbursed to Ukraine this year, with the remainder coming in 2027.
The bulk of the loan is earmarked for military spending, with around €17bn each year destined for general budget needs such as health and education.
Two killed in Russian strikes on Odesa
Meanwhile, Russian strikes have killed two people and wounded 14 others in Ukraine's southern city of Odesa, emergency services said.
"Residential buildings and civilian infrastructure came under attack," said a statement on the State Emergency Service of Ukraine's official Telegram channel on Friday.
It noted the strikes hit a three-storey residential building and destroyed at least two 2-storey buildings.
"In total, as a result of the Russian attack, 2 people were killed and 14 were wounded", it said.
The statement said 16 residents were evacuated from a residential building, and more than 140 rescuers were deployed at the strike sites.
Russia has pummelled Ukraine with drone and missile barrages in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure and cutting power.
Earlier this month, at least nine people were killed in Odesa, targeted by "several waves of missiles and drones throughout the night," the head of the local military administration, Sergiy Lysak, said at the time.
Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia, meet crown prince
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia today and hold talks with crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, a senior official in Kyiv said, marking his second trip to the country in as many months.
Mr Zelensky has brokered closer ties with several states in the Gulf amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, striking defence deals - including with Riyadh - to share Kyiv's expertise in downing drones, gained through fending off four years of Russian attacks.
Kyiv also dispatched dozens of military specialists and drone interceptors to several countries in the region, where they were used to shoot down incoming Iranian drones. It touts its anti-drone defences as the best in the world.
In a visit last month, Mr Zelensky said the two sides had "reached an important arrangement" on air defence.
The deal envisaged a decade-long cooperation on defence, including on establishing joint production lines, Mr Zelensky said after the last visit.
Saudi Arabia has maintained good relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, and has also hosted talks with US officials searching for an end to the Russian invasion.
