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Ukraine military says a column of refugees was attacked leaving Luhansk, killing many women and children. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Minsk, Belarus on August 26.

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking to journalists jointly with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking to journalists jointly with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

 

European Commisson President Barroso expressed concern of the gathering of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border as well as the continuing flow of arms, equipment, and militants from Russian territory which run counter to efforts towards de-escalating the crisis. President Barroso warned against any unilateral military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian. He also appealed to Russia to use its influence to ensure that civilian populations could safely and freely leave areas of conflict controlled by illegal armed groups.

In speaking with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, President Barroso emphasized the EU’s readiness to increase its support to the Ukrainian government-led humanitarian response efforts, as well as international humanitarian organizations. The President of the Commission welcomed President Poroshenko’s willingness to seek humanitarian assistance. In this vein, President Barroso announced that the European Commission would take this week an emergency decision on additional humanitarian support as a contribution-led to the UN international response plan. He also stressed the importance of an ongoing reform process in Ukraine in view of the expected provisional application of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

During a meeting of the European Union in Brussels on August 15, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted several conclusions on the worsening crisis in eastern Ukraine and its humanitarian impact on the civilian population. Besides stating its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence of Ukraine, the EU reiterated that “any unilateral military actions on the part of the Russian Federation in Ukraine under any pretext, including humanitarian, will be considered by the European Union as a blatant violation of international law.”

The EU added that “in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation and to improve the situation of the civilian population, the European Union urges the Russian Federation to put an immediate stop to any form of border hostilities,in particular, to the flow of arms, military advisers, and armed personnel into the conflict region and to withdraw its forces from the border.”

Ann Charles
Ann Charles is UN Bureau Chief of "Baltic Review" based in New York City. She covers diplomatic activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and the world body's work in human rights, education, culture, the environment, and tourism, among other global concerns.

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