By Christopher Buhl
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assumes heavy Russian attacks.
“We don’t mind. It is the sovereign choice of each country to join or not to join economic alliances. In contrast to NATO, the EU is not a military organization, not a political bloc.” – Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin (69) at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg on Friday on Ukraine’s EU membership application.
But as relaxed as the Russian ruler sounds here, his words are also deceptive. And the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj (44) does not trust his counterpart one millimeter.
In his video message on Sunday evening, he warned of even more violent Russian attacks in Ukraine in view of the EU negotiations on his country’s possible candidate status. Zelenskyy is crystal clear: “Of course we expect Russia to increase its hostile activity this week. We are preparing. We are ready.” He expects that Russia will also target other European countries.
The Ukrainian President also reiterated the importance of the upcoming decision. “Tomorrow will be a truly historic week when we hear the European Union’s response on Ukraine’s candidate status,” he said. Few decisions have ever been “so fateful for Ukraine,” said Selenskyj: “Only a positive decision is in the interest of all of Europe.”
Decision at EU summit
On Friday, the EU Commission recommended granting Ukraine candidate status. However, all 27 member states still have to agree to this. The final decision is to be made at the EU summit on 23/24. June fall. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, in her own words, firmly believes that Ukraine will receive candidate status, as she said on Sunday evening on the ARD talk show “Anne Will”.
The President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen Photo: dpa
In eastern Ukraine, fighting for the administrative center of Sievjerodonetsk continues with undiminished intensity. Russia has increased artillery use and deployed more assault troops to revive the offensive in Donbass, Zelenskyy said. But the Ukrainian defenders held all contested points such as Sievjerodonetsk, Lyssychansk or Avdiivka.
The current assessment of the military experts at the Institute for the Study of the War (ISW) fits Zelenskyj’s statements. Accordingly, the Russian offensive in the Donbass stalled. Russia’s superiority in artillery armament has so far not been sufficient for the capture of Sieverodonetsk.
According to the analysis, “Russia’s concentrated artillery capability, coupled with arguably weakened infantry units, remains insufficient to sustain Russian advances in Sieverodonetsk.” Moscow troops continued to fight for control of the city, but made little progress.
Nevertheless, the Russian military speaks of progress
The Russian military, on the other hand, speaks of a positive development of its own offensive. According to their own statements, the Russian troops took Metjolkine, a suburb of the former city, on Sunday.
In addition, a command post of the Ukrainian armed forces with high-ranking officers in the Dnipropetrovsk region was destroyed by a rocket attack. “The strike killed more than 50 generals and officers of the Ukrainian armed forces, including general staff officers and the command staff of the Kakhovka unit, airborne troops and units operating in the Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia regions,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
