(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso made separate telephone calls today to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the situation in Ukraine.
Speaking with Putin, he "expressed concern at 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," according to a statement release by Barroso's office.
The head of the EU's executive body "warned against any unilateral military actions in Ukraine, under any pretext, including humanitarian." Barroso 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.
He underlined the EU's regret at Russia's announcement of measures targeting at European food and agricultural imports, "for which there was no justification, reserving the EU's right to take action as appropriate." Speaking with Poroshenko, Barroso emphasised the EU's readiness to increase its support to the Ukrainian government-led humanitarian response efforts as well as to international humanitarian organisations.
Barroso announced that the European Commission would take this week an emergency decision on additional humanitarian support to Ukraine as a contribution to the UN-led international response plan.
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