Ukraine prepares for the EU – the nightly update without photos Greta speaks out in favor of Palestine – then a man snatches the microphone from her hand

Ukraine, under attack by Russia, continues to prepare for the hoped-for start of negotiations to join the European Union. Before a decision by the heads of state or government of the EU member states, expected in December, his country wants to meet all the requirements of the European Commission, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. “We are working on an unconditional decision to start negotiations.”

After the foreign ministers of the EU countries discussed Ukraine in Brussels on Monday, the defense ministers will meet on Tuesday. They are also concerned about further support for Ukraine, which has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for almost 21 months. Zelensky and Commander-in-Chief Valery Zalushny spoke on Monday about a difficult situation in various sectors of the front in the south and east of the country.

Zelenskyj: Ukraine wants to meet all demands

The Ukrainian head of state discussed the next steps towards EU accession with his leaders on Monday. It is crucial to meet all the European Commission’s demands as a condition for accession negotiations, Zelensky said.

After Ukraine declared a candidate for membership in 2022, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recommended starting negotiations last week. She believes the country is on track to meet a total of seven requirements. It is, among other things, about combating corruption.

Zelensky presented the accession as a European project: “The success of our country and our people – economically, socially and in the development of Ukraine’s relations with the world – can only be achieved as a joint success of all Europe,” he said .

Avdiivka, Maryinka, Bakhmut – the hotspots of the front

In his video address on Monday evening, Zelenskyy named the parts of the approximately 1,200-kilometer front where the fighting is currently the fiercest: “Avdiivka, Maryinka, Bakhmut section, Lyman section, Kupyansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson region – it is difficult in each of them sections.»

Commander-in-Chief Zalushnyj gave a similar list in a telephone conversation with US Commander-in-Chief Charles Brown. «The Avdiivka, Kupyansk and Mariinka sections are the hottest. The situation is difficult but is being controlled,” he said.

Killed in artillery shelling on Kherson in southern Ukraine

Air warnings were issued over several areas in southern Ukraine on Monday evening. The Russian military has launched two groups of combat drones, the Ukrainian Air Force said. During the day, Russian artillery shelled several towns in the southern Kherson region, regional chief Olexander Proskudin said. Three people were killed and 17 injured.

The northern part of the Kherson region was liberated by the Ukrainian army a year ago. The southern part is still occupied by Russian troops. The Dnipro River is the front line. However, Ukrainian troops have recently crossed the river in several places and established bridgeheads.

Russian state news agencies Tass and Ria Novosti reported on Monday that Russian troops were withdrawing from the region. A few minutes later they canceled their reports again. The Moscow Ministry of Defense described the messages as a provocation.

Ukrainian winter sowing is declining

As a result of the Russian war of aggression, the area for winter sowing in Ukraine has shrunk significantly, according to industry sources. For winter wheat, the area of ​​3.8 million hectares is only half as large as before the war, says Denys Martschuk, vice-chairman of the UAC agricultural association. The decline is because much arable land has become unusable due to the fighting. Farmers also did not have enough income from their summer harvest to buy seeds, he said.

A smaller harvest is expected next spring and summer. Ukraine’s food supply is still not in danger, Martschuk said. However, there will be less grain for export. Due to Russian ships and aircraft, the main export route for Ukrainian agricultural products by ship via the Black Sea is only available to a limited extent.

That will be important on Tuesday

A day after foreign ministers and defense ministers of EU countries discussed further support for Ukraine in Brussels. However, it is becoming clear that a proposal by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for longer-term funding commitments for military aid is not receiving the necessary support from all 27 EU countries. That’s why it’s about exploring compromises. Borrell had originally proposed mobilizing five billion euros annually for military aid from 2024 to 2027. He wants to present a new design in December. (sda/dpa)