Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that Russia was likely to intensify its “hostile activity” this week, as Kyiv awaits a historic decision from the European Union (EU) on its membership application.
As the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine which began on 24 February approaches three months, Zelensky said there had been “few such fateful decisions for Ukraine” as the one it expects from the EU this week, adding in his evening address that “only a positive decision is in the interest of the whole of Europe.”
“Obviously, we expect Russia to intensify hostile activity this week… we are preparing. We are ready,” he continued.
Ukraine said it had also repulsed fresh attacks by Russian forces in the eastern front, rocked by fierce battles as Moscow tries to seize the industrial Donbas region. Zelensky had earlier vowed that his troops would not give up the south of the country, after he had paid a visit on the frontline.
Ukraine applied to join the EU four days after Russian forces stormed into the country and began their deadly assault in February. The EU’s executive, the European Commission, on Friday recommended that Ukraine receive candidate status.
Zelensky’s defiance came as NATO’s chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that the war could go on “for years” and urged western countries to be ready to offer long-term military, political and economic aid.
“We must not weaken in our support of Ukraine, even if the costs are high- not only in terms of military support but also because of rising energy and food prices,” Stoltenberg told German daily newspaper Bild.