The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union issued a statement on January 29 expressing its deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

"It [the Council] urges all parties to fully respect international law, to protect civilians and humanitarian workers and to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian organizations in line with international humanitarian law and principles," according to the document, which was circulated in Brussels on Thursday evening.

"The EU remains committed to support the most vulnerable population affected by the conflict with now a total of 900,000 internally displaced people and 600,000 refugees who are forced to leave combat zones at short notice and are in dire need of assistance," it said.