Russia intensifies its Donbas offensive as Poland's Duda visits Kyiv
Russia pressed its offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region on Sunday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the outcome of the gruelling conflict would determine whether his country's fate lies with the West or under Moscow's domination.
After declaring its total control of Azovstal, a sprawling steel mill complex that was the last defence holdout in the port city of Mariupol, the Russian military launched strikes in Ukraine's industrial heartland, seeking to expand the territory Moscow-backed separatists have held since 2014.
In a Saturday night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy described the situation in the Donbas as "really hard", but "the fact that we are able to say this on the 87th day of a full-scale war against Russia is good news."
"Every day that our defenders take away from these offensive plans of Russia, disrupting them, is a concrete contribution in the approach of the main day. The desired day that we are all looking forward to and fighting for: Victory Day," Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy's remarks came as Poland's president prepared to meet with him to support Ukraine's goal of becoming a candidate for EU membership, an issue set to be decided at the bloc's summit in late June.
As the West rallied behind Ukraine, Polish President Andrzej Duda made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and on Sunday became the first foreign leader to address the Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, since the start of the war.
Poland, which has welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees since Russia invaded its neighbour, has become a significant gateway for Western humanitarian aid and weapons going into Ukraine. The government in Warsaw also strongly supports Ukraine's desire to join the EU.
Zelenskyy stressed Saturday that
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