MOSCOW, Feb 21 Reuters The rouble weakened on Tuesday despite increased demand for the currency ahead of monthend tax payments as President Vladimir Putin prepares to update Russia39;s political and military elite on the Ukraine conflict.

At 0732 GMT the rouble was 0.7 weaker against the dollar at 75.05, edging closer to an almost 10month low of 75.30 hit on Friday.

The Russian currency had lost 0.5 to 80.04 versus the euro and was down 0.2 against the yuan at 10.89.

Putin will address members of both houses of parliament on Tuesday, nearly a year since despatching tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in a move that has triggered the biggest confrontation with the West since the depths of the Cold War.

The rouble is usually in greater demand before monthend taxes are due on Feb. 28, when exporters typically convert their foreign currency revenue.

The weakening in the first half of February is to a large degree linked with psychological pessimism over the expectation of new sanctions, said Andrei Kochetkov, lead analyst at Otkritie Research.

Nevertheless, oil prices remain high and the rouble should be supported by exporters in the final third of February, Kochetkov added.

EU members are expected to approve the 10th package of sanctions against Russia this week.

Brent crude oil , a global benchmark for Russia39;s main export, was down 0.8 at 83.4 a barrel while the country39;s stock indexes were mixed.

The minuscule turnover, despite market strength,…