Barroso promises support for Ukraine to Poroshenko

 European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Saturday promised his support to the visiting Ukrainian President Poroshenko.
"We have discussed the latest developments in the security and humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, which have further increased our concern," Barroso said in a statement.
"Poroshenko's visit today in Brussels is an important symbol of the European Union's continuing support for Ukraine and our commitment to achieving a political, negotiated solution to the conflict," said Barroso.
He mentioned the European Commission is ready to increase support for the Ukrainian-led international humanitarian response efforts, added that "We are also helping Ukraine to cope with the economic effects of the crisis."
In March, the European Union agreed on an extraordinary assistance package the European Commission proposed for Ukraine. More than half a billion euros in loans and 250 million euros (328 million U.S. dollars) in grants have already been mobilized by the European Commission as part of this package. (1 euro = 1.31 U.S. dollars)