LOC13:25
10:25 GMT
BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (KUNA) -- EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, warned on Thursday that Ukraine is facing a "humanitarian catastrophe" as Russian strikes continue to cause power cuts amid harsh winter conditions.
In press remarks ahead of the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Kallas said that Russia is continuing to bombard Ukraine despite ongoing US mediated talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the war.
She stressed the importance of providing tangible security guarantees to Ukraine, noting that such guarantees must include both Europeans and Americans, so that Ukraine is not attacked again if a settlement is reached.
She pointed out that the European Union is discussing providing additional energy support to Ukraine during a difficult winter in which Ukrainians are suffering severe humanitarian conditions, warning of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.
In this context, she confirmed that the European Union is moving towards blacklisting Russia on the money laundering list, as these means are being used to fund the war, considering that any measure that puts pressure on Moscow to engage in real negotiations is a positive step.
In the same context, Kallas affirmed that Europeans continue to support Ukraine to strengthen its ability to defend itself, amid a decline in US support over the past year, stressing the need to respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are under heavy strain in Ukraine and other parts of the world. (end)
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