As Kyiv awaits a historic decision from the European Union on its membership, Ukraine fears an intensified attack from the enemy
The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia will intensify its attacks this week, as Kyiv awaits a decision on its bid to join the European Union (E.U.)
The caution follows a European Commission recommendation to grant candidate status to Ukraine. European leaders are due to meet this week to give their final decision regarding Ukraine’s fast-tracked membership application.
Zelenskyy said in a video message, “Tomorrow a historic week begins. There have been few such fateful decisions for Ukraine. And in such a week, we should expect greater hostile activity from Russia. And not only against Ukraine, but also against other European countries. We are preparing. We are ready. We warn partners.”
The President of Russia – Vladimir Putin doesn’t want Ukraine to join E.U. or North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). He is against the influence of West in Ukraine. He also doesn’t want NATO to have troops near Russian territories.
Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues in Sievierodonetsk, where Russia now controls most of the city. In Sievierodonetsk’s twin city of Lycans, residential buildings and private houses had been destroyed by Russian shelling.
Russia said it had seized Methylone, a village on the outskirts with reports of Ukrainian fighters surrendering. The E.U. Foreign Ministers will discuss ways to free millions of tonnes of grain stuck in Ukraine due to Russia’s Black Sea port blockade at a meeting in Luxembourg. Ukraine is one of the top wheat suppliers globally, but its grain shipments have stalled and more than 20 million tonnes have been trapped in silos since Russia invaded and blocked the ports.
Taking it to twitter, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – Jose Borrell Fontelles tweeted,
Russia's war against #Ukraine creates global price increases and scarcity of energy and food. There is a risk of a great famine.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 20, 2022
Today, I present to EU Foreign Ministers #FAC the EU Action Plan on the geopolitical consequences of the Russian aggression.https://t.co/lvWbZHnsO5 pic.twitter.com/fjk0KibmHX
In Southern Ukraine, Western weaponry had helped Ukrainian forces advance 10 kms (6 miles) towards Russian-occupied Melitopol. Russia has demanded that Lithuania immediately lift a ban on the transit of some goods to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
The Russian Foreign Ministry told the Lithuanian envoy in Moscow that if cargo transit between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia through Lithuania was not restored, Moscow would respond to protect its interests. Lithuanian authorities banned the transit of goods that are sanctioned by the E.U. across its territory.
