KYIV WARNS OF RUSSIAN ESCALATION AT SOME POINT OF EU BID

President Zelensky signed a bid for EU club simply days after Russia released an invasion of Ukraine Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia will accentuate its assaults on his u.s. with inside the coming days, as Kyiv awaits information on its bid to enroll in the EU. Members of the bloc are anticipated to determine whether or not to award "candidate status" to Kyiv later this week. The flow might start the system of Ukraine's accession to the alliance, that can take years to entire but Mr Zelensky warned the selection may want to see Russia step up its assaults.

Speaking at some point of his nightly cope with from Kyiv, the Ukrainian chief stated he and his advisors anticipate "more adverse interest" from Moscow, however informed residents that his forces "are preparing" and are prepared for any renewed attack. He pledged to push ahead with what he referred to as Ukraine's "historic" objectives to sign up for the EU, which have been recommended through the bloc's executive, the European Commission, final week. But now the choice rests with the European Council, a frame made of the leaders of Member States, to be able to meet at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Ukrainian accession to the EU might task Vladimir Putin's choice to maintain his neighbor out of the West's orbit. "I assume it's far apparent to everybody that in view that 1991 there were few such fateful selections for Ukraine as we anticipate now," Mr Zelensky stated, referencing the yr Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union. "And I am satisfied that best a superb choice meets the pursuits of the complete of Europe." Kyiv implemented to sign up for the EU simply 4 days after Russia released its invasion on 24 February. On Friday, Russian chief Vladimir Putin stated he has "not anything towards" Ukraine's goals to sign up for the alliance, however his spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that any pass in the direction of accession could require "improved attention" on Moscow's part.

"We all realize approximately the intensification of discussions in Europe at the strengthening of the defence element of the EU," Mr Peskov stated. "The military, defense and safety additives are being discussed, and all sorts of changes are taking place there, and we are, of course, gazing all of it thoroughly." And Mr Zelensky warned different EU participants that they too ought to anticipate retaliation from Moscow with inside the coming days. "Obviously, we ought to anticipate more opposed hobby from Russia," he stated. "And now no longer most effective towards Ukraine, however additionally towards different European countries."

The Ukrainian chief's caution comes amid an ongoing Russian attack within side the east of Ukraine. Moscow's forces with inside the location was trying to take entire manage of the Donbas, components of which have been already held with the aid of using pro-Russian separatists previous to the outbreak of the war. Much of the combating has been focused across the metropolis of Severodonetsk, which Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai instructed country TV Russia now controlled "the primary part" of. The UK defense ministry stated on Sunday that regardless of each Russia and Ukraine engaging in heavy artillery bombardments on axes to the north, east and south of the town, there was little or no extrude to positions at the front line. Meanwhile, the pinnacle of Nato has warned that the struggle in Ukraine may want to grow to be a long war.

"We need to put together for the truth that it may take years," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg informed the German newspaper Bild on Saturday. But he emphasized that the West have to now no longer permit up in its aid for Kyiv and warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin need to attain his targets in Ukraine the world "might need to pay a good extra price". His feedback had been echoed via way of means of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who on Sunday accused Mr Putin of resorting to a "marketing campaign of attrition" and "looking to grind down Ukraine through sheer brutality". "I'm afraid we want to metal ourselves for an extended war," he wrote. "Time is the critical factor. Everything will rely on whether or not Ukraine can toughen its cap potential to guard its soil quicker than Russia can renew its ability to attack."