As a new candidate for EU membership, Ukraine can hope for a future in a common Europe.

At the same time, however, the military situation in the eastern Luhansk region is becoming ever more precarious for the Ukrainian army.

Russian troops are fighting and trying to encircle the strategically important city of Lyssychansk.

Additional important weapons such as multiple rocket launcher artillery systems and patrol boats come from the USA.

Zelenskyj: EU candidate status for Ukraine historic

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed his country's EU candidate status as a historic moment.

"The future of Ukraine lies in the EU," he emphasized after the decision of the EU heads of state and government at the summit in Brussels.

At the same time, this is currently the largest possible step to strengthen Europe, “while the Russian war is testing our ability to maintain freedom and unity.

Selenskyj had campaigned massively for the prospect of accession in the past few months.

Now, in his daily video address, he reiterated that Ukraine is capable of becoming a full member of the EU.

Russian troops advance to the outskirts of Lysychansk

In eastern Ukraine, Russian troops advanced to the outskirts of the city of Lysychansk, according to Ukrainian sources.

"Our fighters stopped the advance towards the southern outskirts of Lysychansk, inflicted casualties on the enemy and forced him to retreat," said the General Staff situation report in Kyiv on Thursday evening.

The Russian army is now drawing on reserves.

Lysychansk is the last major city in the Luhansk Oblast under full Ukrainian control.

The twin city of Sievjerodonetsk on the other side of the river Siverskyi Donets has been largely conquered by Russian troops.

On Thursday morning it became known that south of Lysychansk a Ukrainian group was surrounded in the villages of Solote and Hirske.

In the evening, the Ukrainian military announced that the Russian troops had meanwhile partially captured Hirske.

According to the report, they were able to completely close the cauldron.

US pledges more arms to Ukraine for $450 million

The US announced further arms sales to Ukraine in the amount of 450 million dollars (about 428 million euros).

That included multiple rocket launcher artillery systems and patrol boats, said a senior White House official, John Kirby.

According to its own statements, the USA has promised or already delivered weapons and equipment worth around 6.1 billion dollars to the country attacked by Russia in the four months of the war.

The government in Kyiv is asking for more modern weapons to curb the military superiority of Russian troops.

White House: G7 summit to further isolate Russia

US President Joe Biden is traveling to the G7 summit this Saturday, which will take place from Sunday to Tuesday at Schloss Elmau in Bavaria.

Kirby said the summit's goals were to "further isolate Russia from the global economy, target Russia's defense supply chain, and continue to work against the circumvention of these unprecedented sanctions."

After the G7 meeting, Biden travels to a NATO summit in Madrid.

There, too, the focus will be on the Ukraine war.

Nike announces withdrawal from Russia

The world's largest sporting goods company Nike wants to withdraw completely from Russia in view of the ongoing war against Ukraine.

"Nike has made the decision to exit the Russian market," the US company announced.

The priority now is to support local workers while operations are being shut down in the coming months.

The Adidas competitor - like many other Western companies - had already significantly restricted its business in Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

In the meantime, more and more companies want to turn their backs on Russia entirely.

That will be important on Friday

At the EU summit, high inflation and rising energy prices will be discussed, which are part of the consequences of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.

The military situation around Lysychansk will continue to be the focus, as Russia could open the way there for control of the entire Luhansk region.

At a conference in Berlin shortly before the G7 summit, the German government is focusing on the global food situation and the search for solutions to blocked grain exports from Ukraine.