BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The EU transferred 135 million euros ($147 million) initially allocated for programs with Russia and Belarus towards strengthening the cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova, it said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

"The decision (...) is the result of the brutal war of Russia against Ukraine", EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira said.

The EU also decided that regions in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Poland which were supposed to participate in cooperation programs with Russia and Belarus may participate in other existing programs.

($1 = 0.9200 euros)

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Toby Chopra)