POLE’S POSITION ON UKR.

Prez backs EU bid

Russia intensified its offensive in eastern Ukraine on Sunday, as Poland’s president became the first foreign leader to speak in front of the Ukrainian parliament since war broke out.

Speaking to the legislature in Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed his support for Ukraine’s ambitions to join the European Union.

“Unfortunately, in Europe there have also been disturbing voices in recent times demanding that Ukraine yield to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s demands,” Duda said. “I want to say clearly: Only Ukraine has the right to decide about its future. Only Ukraine has the right to decide for itself.”

Zel asks EU action

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the EU should agree quickly to make his country the bloc’s 28th member due to the conflict.

Zelensky said Duda’s visit marked a “historic union” between the two countries, with Poland taking in millions of Ukrainian refugees since Russia launched its invasion in February.

“Despite the great destruction, despite the terrible crime and great suffering that the Ukrainian people suffered every day, the Russian invaders did not break you,” Duda said. “They failed at it. And I believe deeply that they will never succeed.”

Zelensky adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, meanwhile, ruled out a cease-fire, saying Kyiv wouldn’t accept a deal with Moscow that involved giving up territory.

“The war will not stop [after concessions]. It will just be put on pause for some time,” Podolyak, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, told Reuters. “They’ll start a new offensive, even more bloody and large-scale.”

The comments came as Russian forces moved ahead with an offensive in the Donbas, launching artillery and missile attacks in the eastern region of the country in hopes of expanding territory that Moscowbacked separatists have held since 2014.

Ukraine’s parliament Sunday approved the extension of martial law and the mobilization of armed forces for the third time through Aug. 23.

Russia is attempting to capture Sievierodonetsk, the main city controlled by Ukraine in Luhansk province, which along with Donetsk province makes up the Donbas.

The city has only one working hospital with three doctors and enough supplies to last 10 days, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said.

Attack fails

The Ukrainian military said Sunday the Russian attack on Oleksandrivka, a village outside of Sievierodonetsk, failed. Moscow said it plans to resume its offensive on Slovyansk, Donetsk.

The latest push comes after the Kremlin declared control of the Azovstal steel plant that was a final holdout in the port city of Mariupol. Russia claims to have captured about 2,500 Ukrainian prisoners in the battle.

Ukraine has yet to comment on Russia’s claim it captured Azovstal.