Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Russia currently occupies about 20% of his country's territory, and this came at a time when Russian forces are close to full control of the Lugansk region (eastern Ukraine).
In a video speech to the Luxembourg parliament on Thursday, Zelensky said that all Russia's combat-ready military formations were "involved in this aggression," adding that the front lines of the battle extend over more than 1,000 kilometers.
The Ukrainian president had stated that the situation is "very difficult" in the east of the country, and that between 60 and 100 soldiers of his country's army are killed daily in the war that has been going on for 99 days, while about 500 others are wounded.
Russian expansion
The Associated Press quoted a Ukrainian official as saying that Russian forces now control 80% of the territory of Severodonetsk in Lugansk Province.
Lugansk Governor Sergei Gaidai also announced that Russian forces were "reinforcing their positions" in the center of Severodonetsk, launching attacks in the northern, southern and eastern districts of the city.
The Associated Press quoted Gaidai as saying that Lysichansk is the only city in the region that is still under full Ukrainian control.
Putin's goals
Valery Fadeev, an advisor to the Russian President, stressed that the war in Ukraine will not end until the goals set by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Donbass region are achieved.
As for US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, he explained that his country is speeding up sending weapons to Ukraine, so that Kyiv would be in a strong position in any future negotiations with Russia, and added that Putin wanted his “invasion” of Ukraine to divide Europe, but what happened was the opposite, according to saying.
The Kremlin's response to Blinken's comments came from spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said that the United States' plans to sell drones to Kiev for use on the battlefield against Russia would not change the parameters of what Moscow calls its military operation in Ukraine.
Penalty package
Politically, European Union foreign and security policy chief Josep Borrell said that it had been agreed to impose a sixth package of sanctions on Russia, including reducing European countries' imports of Russian oil by 90% by the end of this year.
In statements on the sidelines of an EU summit to be held in Brussels, Borrell added that this was done after agreeing to give exceptions for obtaining oil through pipelines by land for landlocked countries, in reference to Hungary.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced that the EU countries agreed to strengthen their defenses, ensure energy supplies and face the emerging food shortage crisis.
On the second day of the European Union summit meeting in Brussels, the European official added that a joint committee was formed among the member states of the Union, whose mission is to purchase gas and oil.