Russia To Step Up Its Attacks Ahead Of European Leaders Meeting This Week, President Zelensky: We Are Ready

President Zelensky visits Ukrainian troops on the front lines of the battle. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Russian troops seized territory along a frontline river in eastern Ukraine on Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky expecting Moscow to step up attacks ahead of a summit of European leaders expected to welcome Kyiv's offer to join the European Union.

Moscow's separatist proxies claim to have captured Toshkivka, a city on the western bank of the mostly Ukrainian-controlled Siverskyi Donets river, south of Sievierodonetsk, which has become a major battlefield city in recent weeks.

Ukraine admits Moscow has had success in Toshkivka and says it is trying to gain a foothold there to make inroads into the wider eastern Donbas region controlled by Ukraine. It also confirms Russia's claim to have captured Metyolkine on the eastern outskirts of Sievierodonetsk.

"Obviously, this week we have to face an intensification of hostile activities from Russia. We are preparing. We are ready," President Zelensky said.

It is understood EU leaders at a summit this weekend are expected to give Ukraine their blessing to become the official candidate to join the bloc, a decision that would be marked as a victory in Kyiv.

While it will take Ukraine years to enter the European Union, for the bloc to reach deep into the heart of the former Soviet Union would bring about one of the biggest economic and social transformations in Europe since the Cold War.

Ukraine signed up to join just four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops across the border on February 24.