Ukraine president anticipates an increase in Russian aggression

•  Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy predicts that Russia will intensify its attacks this week.
• In his weekly video message, Zelenskiy stated, “Obviously, we should expect Russia to step up its aggressive efforts this week.” “
• “Four days after Russian forces crossed the border in February, Ukraine submitted its application to join the EU.

As European Union officials ponder whether to support Kyiv’s application to join the group and Moscow intensifies its drive to seize control of the country’s east, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy predicts that Russia will intensify its attacks this week.

In his weekly video message on Sunday night, Zelenskiy stated, “Obviously, we should expect Russia to step up its aggressive efforts this week.” “We are getting ready. We’re prepared.”

Four days after Russian forces crossed the border in February, Ukraine submitted its application to join the EU. The European Commission, the head of the EU, advocated for Ukraine to be given candidate status on Friday

Despite reservations from several member nations, the 27-nation union’s leaders will discuss the issue at a meeting on Thursday and Friday and are anticipated to support Ukraine’s candidacy. The procedure can take many years to finish.

One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s avowed objectives, to keep Moscow’s southern neighbour outside of the West’s sphere of influence, would be compromised by the EU’s embrace of Ukraine.

Putin stated on Friday that Moscow had “nothing against” Ukraine joining the EU, but a spokesman for the Kremlin said Moscow was closely monitoring Kyiv’s application, particularly in light of greater defence cooperation among EU members.

On the battlefield, Russian soldiers are attempting to fully annex the eastern Donbas region, portions of which were already held by rebels with Russian support prior to the invasion on February 24.

The industrial city of Sievierodonetsk is one of Moscow’s main targets in its eastern offensive. On Sunday, Russia claimed to have taken control of the nearby village of Metyolkine, where numerous Ukrainian fighters were supposed to have made their surrender, according to Russian state news agency TASS. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia had “limited success” there.

Russian attack on Toshkivka, 35 kilometres (20 miles) south of Sievierodonetsk, also “had a degree of success,” according to Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai to Ukrainian TV.

Gaidai claimed that after fierce battle, Russia held “the main part” but not the entire town in Sievierodonetsk, a city with a population of 100,000 before the war. The combat accounts could not be independently verified by Reuters.

According to a statement from the British Ministry of Defence on Sunday, both Russia and Ukraine have continued to heavily pound the area of Sievierodonetsk “with little change to the front line.”

Residential structures and private homes in Sievierodonetsk’s twin city Lysychansk had been obliterated by Russian artillery, according to Gaidai. He continued, “People are dying in bomb shelters and on the streets.”

Later, he said that 19 people had fled the area on Sunday. Humanitarian supplies is being sent and individuals are being evacuated as best as we can, according to Gaidai.

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