EU wants more severe sanctions on Russia

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen admitted that the package is still under consideration and once it is approved, it would deprive Russia of military equipment it needs.

Since the beginning, the European Union made clear where they stand as far as the Ukraine crisis is concerned. The group has been trying to help not just militarily but financially as well. It took a huge number of Ukrainian refugees as well over the last one year. Now, the European Union has sought a new set of sanctions on Russia to push it for peace and settlement.

According to media reports, the new sanction would be totalling 11 billion euros. For now, it appears Russia has not been cowed down by the EU sanction as the war has been going on for nearly a year. The new set of sanctions are expected to cut supply of goods to Russia that are being used for boosting up its defence preparations.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, admitted that the package is still under consideration and once it is approved, it would deprive Russia of military equipment it needs. A general practice among the EU members is to consult the US and the UK before declaring any sanction.

UN humanitarian groups seek $5.6 bn for Ukraine

The Ukrainian crisis has raised several issues and one of them is displaced people affected by the war. Not just the European Union but several other international organizations, including the UN humanitarian agencies, also have helped the displaced people. According to the UN, several of its humanitarian groups helped nearly 16 million people in Ukraine last year.

However, the assistance received from the UN agencies and other humanitarian groups is not enough to help people in the war-torn Ukraine. Needless to say, they are now seeking financial assistance to the tune of $5.6 billion so that humanitarian work could be done effectively. In fact, UNHCR alone is asking for $1.7 billion to help some 4.2 million Ukrainian refugees.

The war has displaced millions of people and nearly 5 million Ukrainians have migrated to 10 countries in eastern and central Europe. However, they are not able to meet the basic requirements for life and need one or the other sort of financial help from the global agencies. With $5.6 billion, these agencies would be able to carry out the relief work properly.

However, it is also a fact that such appeals for financial assistance are rarely fully funded, they often receive partial amounts only. The lack of funds will further aggravate the lives of Ukrainian refugees, especially as the war is not getting over soon.