Mari Saito, Max Hunder

KYIV/KHARKIV Ukraine, (Reuters). European Union leaders will gather on Monday to reaffirm their support for Ukraine. Russian forces have intensified the attack to capture Sievierodonetsk in Donbas, a critical city that Moscow considers a priority to take full control of.

Incessant shelling has forced Ukrainian forces to defend Sievierodonetsk’s ruins, but their unwillingness to withdraw them is hindering the progress of a large-scale Russian offensive in the Donbas.

“Up to 90% of the buildings have been damaged. Over two-thirds (or more) of the city’s housing stock have been destroyed. In a broadcast speech, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, stated that there is no telecomm.

“Capturing Sievierodonetsk, a crucial task for the occupiers… We do everything we can to maintain this advance.”

Zelenskiy visited Ukrainian soldiers at the frontlines in Northeast Kharkiv on Sunday. It was his first time outside of Kyiv Region since the invasion.

According to the White House, he told troops that he would risk his life in order to save our nation’s lives as a gift giver.

Sergei Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) stated that Moscow had given the Donbas, an industrial area which includes Luhansk & Donetsk, “unconditional priority”.

Ukrainian forces in Donbas claimed that they were constantly on the defensive on Sunday. Russian forces opened fire on 46 Donetsk-Luhansk communities, killing or wounding at least 3 civilians and causing damage to 62 buildings.

On Sunday, Russian bombardment continued in several areas including Novy Buh (Mykolaiv) and Sumy.

One Ukrainian soldier was patrolling in the trenches close to Bakhmut in southwest Sievierodonetsk when he expressed a concern that his government might be enticed into negotiations for an end of the conflict, which would lead to Ukraine losing its territory.

“Now that fighting is so intense and tough, you know what I am most afraid of,” Dmytro said. Dmytro was a former English teacher. It would have been said to Dmytro: “That’s it. Stop it. We have a ceasefire.”

“A negotiated settlement can only happen on Ukrainian terms and at present if it happened it would be horror,” he said, adding that such a move could end Zelenskiy’s career.

Robert Habeck from Germany’s Economy Ministry expressed concerns that EU unity might “start to crumble” at the summit of leaders set for Monday and Tuesday to discuss new sanctions on Russia, including an oil embargo.

Reuters obtained draft conclusions for the meeting. They showed that the EU would be open to Kyiv’s verbal support but little will be done on major issues.

Because a Russian embargo is unacceptable to Hungary and poses a problem for Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, EU nations have not been able to reach an agreement on a sixth set of sanctions against Moscow.

HIGHLY IMPORTANT LOSSES

Russia has been unsuccessful in capturing the capital Kyiv during the initial phase of war. Now Russia wants to strengthen its hold on Donbas. Large parts of Donbas are currently controlled by Moscow-backed separatists.

To turn the tide of war in Ukraine, which is now entering its fourth month, the Ukrainian government called on the West to supply more long-range weapons. Zelenskiy indicated that he was expecting “good news in the coming days.”

Officials from the United States have confirmed that such weapons systems were being actively considered. Canada asked South Korea for artillery ammunition, Seoul stated Monday. This was apparently in order to “backfill” supplies Ottawa sent to Ukraine.

The Institute for the Study of War Washington analysts stated that the Russians still had not encircled Sievierodonetsk, and the Ukrainian defenders inflicted “fearful losses.”

In a briefing document, they stated that the Ukrainians had suffered heavy losses, both civilians and combatants.

The analysts stated that Russia’s attention on Sievierodonetsk was due to the fact they have not made much progress at other fronts.