EU humanitarian aid to Donbas residents exceeds EUR146 mln

"We feel that the European Commission supports the Ukrainian people, helps us solve security issues and humanitarian challenges. Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine. (Russia invaded) Crimea and (occupied buildings) in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, areas of which (are today) under temporary occupation," Yatseniuk said at the meeting in Kyiv. He added that Ukraine now has more than one million displaced persons. The commissioner assured the premier of the EU's solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The EU's agenda takes into account serious risks associated with the situation in Syria and the problem of refugees, but assistance to Ukraine remains a priority, he said. "Given the new financing of EUR20 million, the total amount of humanitarian aid provided by the European Commission in support of the victims in the east of Ukraine exceeds EUR63 million. In addition to direct financing provided by the EU member states, since the beginning of 2014 the European Union has sent over EUR 146 million to help those affected in the conflict," the report says.