Receiving A Visit By EU Officials, President Zelensky Wants Europe To Increase Sanctions Against Russia

President Zelensky when welcoming the arrival of Ursula von der Leyen with the European Union entourage. (Twitter @vonderleyen)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European leaders visiting Kyiv on Thursday to add more sanctions against Russia, amid increased attacks by Moscow.

The West has imposed massive punitive action since Russia's invasion of Ukraine for nearly a year that has destroyed cities, killed tens of thousands of people, forced millions of people to flee their homes and rocked the global economy.

In the latest violence, Russian missiles destroyed apartments in Kramatorsk, killing at least three people and trapping others under the rubble, police said.

After arriving in the capital Kyiv by train to discuss Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union, head of the bloc's executive commission Ursula von der Leyen promised more financial, military and political assistance to Ukraine.

He also announced the establishment of an international center in The Hague to try the crime of aggression in Ukraine.

"This is a democratic fight against authoritarian regimes," von der Leyen told a joint news conference with President Zelensky.

"We will continue to increase the pressure further," he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led a delegation of more than a dozen officials when coming to Kyiv.

The future of the EU is being written, right now, in Ukraine.This is a fight for freedom, sovereignty and democracy. 🇪🇺 🇺🇦@vonderleyen pic.twitter.com/L6UNdkdFg4

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 2, 2023

"Europe has been on the side of Ukraine since its first day because we knew the future of our continent was being written here... this is a democratic fight against authoritarian regimes," von der Leyen told a news conference in Kyiv.

He had his first meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky shortly after his arrival, and the two leaders will hold a summit on Friday with EU President Charles Michel.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky urged more sanctions, saying his speed had slowed slightly, while Moscow adapted to the sanctions during Europe's biggest armed conflict since the Second World War.

"The sooner and better this task is completed, the closer we are to defeating the aggression of the Russian Federation," he exclaimed.

It is known, determined to make progress before Ukraine receives the newly promised Western armored tanks and vehicles, Russia has announced progress in the north and south of Bakhmut.

Russian troops are pushing from the north and south to surround Bakhmut, using more troops to try to stop him, Ukrainian military analyst Yevhen Dikiy said.

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"The enemy can use its only resources, which it has in excess - the people," Dikiy told Espreso TV, describing a sight northeast of Bakhmut "which is literally filled with corpses".

Ukraine and its Western allies say Moscow has suffered heavy losses around Bakhmut, sending in waves of poor equipment, including thousands of prison recruits.

"We both shot with everything we have," said a Belarusian volunteer who fought for Ukraine inside Bakhmut.