BRUSSELS, Oct 23 (Reuters) - EU countries on Thursday formally adopted a 19th package of sanctions against Russia for its war against Ukraine that includes a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

A proposed summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin was postponed before the new sanctions.

The European Union has agreed on a new raft of sanctions against Russia targeting its shadow fleet of oil tankers and banning its imports of liquefied natural gas, the Danish EU presidency announced Thursday.

The European Union on Thursday formally adopted sweeping sanctions targeting Russia's energy sector, a day after the United States announced punitive measures against the Kremlin's oil industry.

European Union officials want to make a large loan to Ukraine backed by Russian state assets, but on Thursday, they deferred any clear decision on that plan to December.

Belgium, in particular, has been reluctant to back using the frozen assets as it is nervous about having to shoulder any potential consequences should Russia legally challenge Euroclear, the clearing house where the money is located.

EU leaders meeting on Thursday in Brussels discussed using cash arising from around €190bn in frozen sovereign Russian assets to fund a “reparations loan” for Kyiv, as efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine falter and the US pulls back support.