MOSCOW, January 19 (Reuters)—Russia is considering loaning $20 million to Cold War ally Cuba, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday, adding that the money would be spent on buying Russian goods. Rising import costs, falling prices for key export nickel and three hurricanes meant that 2008 was one of the worst years in Cuba's recent history [ID:nN27285223]. "We need to make a decision on giving Cuba a loan of $20 million....That money would be spent at our companies because the plan is for Cuba to use the funds for buying Russian-made goods," Putin told a government meeting.