War in eastern Ukraine is the toughest spot, Zelenskyy says; tensions rise between Russia and NATO member Lithuania & More News

War in eastern Ukraine is ‘the toughest spot,’ Zelenskyy says; tensions rise between Russia and NATO member Lithuania.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the military situation in the eastern region of Luhansk is difficult as the Russians keep intense pressure on Ukrainian troops trying to defend the last towns and villages in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

“The situation on the frontline has not changed significantly. Thanks to tactical maneuvers, the Ukrainian army is strengthening its defense in the Luhansk region. This is really the most difficult place. The occupiers are pressing strongly, and the Donetsk direction Even in the Kharkiv region,” Zelensky said in his nightly address on Tuesday.

The regional governor and Ukraine’s General Staff said on Tuesday that Russian forces had captured several settlements near the major cities of the Luhansk region, Severodonetsk and Lisichansk.

These cities have been the center of fierce fighting and fierce shelling for weeks. Luhansk Governor Serhi Haidai said efforts were on to evacuate the last civilians.

Macron told Stoltenberg he would like to speak to Turkish President Recep Erdogan about Ankara’s position on Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance, according to an Elysee Palace readout.

Macron reiterated his support for Finland and Sweden in their sovereign choice to join the alliance and underlined that they are close partners with strong defense capabilities, which will thus help strengthen the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region. will contribute.” read out.

Last week, Lithuania, which shares a border with Russia, announced it would block entry by rail to all EU-sanctioned goods arriving from mainland Russia.