Help for Ukraine is on its way from the European Union - in the form of financial assistance.<br /> <br />European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso.<br /> <br />SOUNDBITE (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JOSE MANUEL BARROSO, SAYING:<br /> <br />"The package combined could bring an overall support of at least 11 billion euros over the next couple of years, from the EU budget and EU-based international financial institutions. It is a package designed to assist a comittted, inclusive and reforms-oriented Ukrainian government."<br /> <br />The announcement came at meeting of European commissioners in Brussels - ahead of a leaders' emergency summit there on Thursday.<br /> <br />And just a day after the U.S. offered one billion dollars in loan guarantees - and to send technical experts to Ukraine to advise the central bank and finance ministry.<br /> <br />Ukraine's new administration says it needs 35 billion dollars to stay afloat - though the EU says its short-term needs are much less.<br /> <br />It's close to
