EU to increase support for Ukrainian regions affected by Russia's actions

The European Union will always stand by the people of Ukraine in difficult times and will consider ways to further increase assistance to the country's regions affected by Russia's actions in the Sea of Azov.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said this at a press conference after the 5th meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council in Brussels on Monday.

"We are looking into how we can further support now the Ukrainian regions that are affected by the escalation in the Azov Sea, including through the EUR 50 million program that we've recently launched for the east of Ukraine and through other initiatives, also in cooperation with the European Investment Bank," she said.

Mogherini recalled that the European Union continues to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the escalation in eastern Ukraine.

"We also continue and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the east of Ukraine. Just last Thursday, an additional four million euros were allocated for this purpose," she said.