Zelenskyy: The coming week will make history, Russian hostilities expected to intensify

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2022, 23:03

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine insists that the coming week will make history and expects Russia to intensify its activities in Ukraine.

Source: Zelenskyy’s video address

Quote: "Tomorrow will mark the beginning of a truly historic week. We will receive the European Union’s response with regard to Ukraine’s candidate status. We already have the European Commission’s favourable decision. At the end of the coming week, we will know the decision of the European Council.

I think it is obvious to everyone that since 1991 [the year of Ukraine’s independence - ed.] there have not been many decisions as crucial to Ukraine as the ones we are currently expecting to be made. And I am certain that a favourable decision is in the interest of Europe as a whole.

It makes sense that Russia might want to deliberately and demonstratively intensify its hostilities during this particular week, not only against Ukraine, but against other European countries as well. We are preparing for it, we are prepared. We are warning our partners."

Details: President Zelenskyy also noted that the Russian occupiers are gathering their forces on the Kharkiv front and in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In addition, they have continued to shell Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure in order to aggravate the situation with fuel access in Ukraine.

"Without a doubt, we will deal with this as well."

Earlier: On 17 June, the European Commissions officially recommended that Ukraine be given European Union candidate status.

The final decision on whether Ukraine will be given candidate status will be taken on 23-24 June, at a European Council meeting.

Read more on Ukraine’s EU candidacy and its conditions here: Ukraine Be Deprived of EU Candidacy without Reforms: Details of the Commission Opinion