Central Europeans ask EU to help Ukraine deal with war displaced

European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 4, 2015. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Central European countries asked the European Union on Wednesday to free up funds to help Ukraine deal with a growing number of people displaced by conflict.

Ukraine is battling Russian-backed separatists in the eastern Donbass region and a ceasefire agreement negotiated with the help of Russia and Western powers is barely holding.