Zelensky expects Russia attacks to intensify at this week EU conference

• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warns of an “intensification” of Russian attacks as EU leaders consider membership bid.
• Leaders of 27-nation union expected to approve Kyiv’s application for membership on Thursday and Friday.
• Putin says Moscow has “nothing against” Ukraine’s EU membership, but is monitoring its application closely.

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that Russia will intensify its attacks this week, as EU leaders weigh whether to support Kyiv’s ambition to join the club and Moscow advances its campaign to seize control of the country’s eastern regions.

As Zelensky stated in his weekly video message on Sunday evening, “Obviously, this week we should expect from Russia an intensification of its hostile activities,“

Read more: President Volodymyr Zelensky visits southern front as battles rage

On Friday, the EU’s governing body, the European Commission, recommended that Ukraine be granted candidate status.

Despite doubts from some member nations, the leaders of the 27-nation union are expected to approve Ukraine’s proposal at a summit on Thursday and Friday. It could take many years to complete the procedure.

When Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine, one of his stated goals was to keep Moscow’s southern neighbour outside the West’s sphere of influence. The EU’s embrace of Ukraine would interfere with this objective.

Putin stated on Friday that Moscow had “nothing against” Ukraine’s EU membership, but a Kremlin official stated that Russia was closely monitoring Kyiv’s application, particularly in light of the growing defence cooperation among member nations.

On the battlefield, Russian soldiers are attempting to seize full control of the eastern Donbas region, which was partially held by rebels backed by Russia before the February 24 assault.

The industrial city of Sievierodonetsk is a key objective of Moscow’s attack in the east.

On Sunday, Russia announced that it had occupied the town of Metyolkine, located on the outskirts of the city, and the Russian news agency stated that numerous Ukrainian fighters had surrendered there. According to the Ukrainian military, Russia enjoyed “partial success” in the region.

Read more: Zelensky official says ‘We do not stop working for victory’