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.