Borrell says EU will continue to help Ukraine

BRUSSELS. Jan 24 (Interfax) - The European Union has already provided nearly 50 billion euros in military, financial, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, has approved an additional military aid package of 500 million euros, and the EU member countries intend to continue to support Kiev, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said.

"Let me tell you that we will continue our support to Ukraine," Borrell said in Brussels on Monday after the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, at which the EU foreign ministers discussed assistance for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"Today we reached a political agreement for the seventh tranche of military support with an additional 500 million euros and an additional assistance measure worth 45 million euros for the Ukrainian forces being trained by our military training mission," he said.

Preparations are ongoing for the EU-Ukraine Summit on February 3, Borrell said, adding that "it will be the first summit with Ukraine as a candidate country."

Another tangible result of the meeting was the approval of the EU's new civilian mission to Armenia, Borrell said, adding that this mission will report on the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and will contribute to security and confidence building measures in the region.

Other issues on the meeting's agenda included the situation in Afghanistan and diplomatic efforts to advance the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo "to break the vicious cycle of crisis and reduce the risk for further escalation," he said.