INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian forces edged toward the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk Monday, while President Volodymyr Zelensky prepared to
at the summit "to kill Russian exports" as he seeks to crank up international pressure on Moscow.Member states are searching for a
compromise on a sixth round of sanctions, which has been delayed by resistance from within the bloc, namely from Hungary.Meanwhile, Russian
forces continued their push in the eastern Donbas region, upping the pressure on the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.Since
failing to capture Kyiv in the war's early stages, Russia's army has narrowed its focus, hammering cities with relentless artillery and
missile barrages as it seeks to consolidate its control.The situation in Severodonetsk, just across the Donets river from Lysychansk, was
"very difficult," Luhansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday said in a statement on social media."The Russians are advancing into the middle of
Severodonetsk," while the fighting continued, Gaiday said.Pressure on the eastWhile Russia concentrated its efforts in the east, Ukrainian
forces pushed back over the weekend in the southern region of Kherson, the country's military leadership said.At the same time, two people
were injured following an explosion in the Moscow-controlled city of Melitopol in southeastern Ukraine, with local pro-Kremlin authorities
pinning the blame on Kyiv.Newly appointed French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna also made the journey to the Ukrainian capital Monday
for talks with Zelensky.The highest-ranking French official to visit Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb
24, Colonna also visited the town of Bucha, where Russian troops have been accused of committing war crimes against the civilian
population.In the eastern Donbas region, Moscow's forces were making slow progress toward taking the city of Severodonetsk.Zelensky, in his
estimated 15,000 civilians remain, a local official said "constant shelling" made it increasingly difficult to get in or out while the water
supply is increasingly unstable.Ukrainian forces counterattacked in the region of Kherson, the only region of the country fully controlled
by Russian troops.Russia gained control over most of Kherson, which borders Crimea, in the early stages of the war and Moscow-backed
officials in the region have recently pushed for annexation.While limited in nature, the attack could have the effect of stretching Russian
Andriyivka, Lozovo and Bilohorka and forced Moscow to send reserves to the area."Kherson, hold on
We're close!" it tweeted Sunday.In Melitopol, Russia-installed authorities said in a statement the city had been targeted by a "terrorist
attack".According to the statement, a car packed with explosives exploded in the city centre, injuring two "humanitarian aid" volunteers, a
28-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man."The Ukrainian government continues its war on the civilian population and the infrastructure of
cities," the officials said.Oil sanctionsA new, sixth round of European sanctions has been held up by Hungary, whose Prime Minister Viktor
Orban has close relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.EU ambassadors made a final push ahead of the summit to persuade Hungary to
accept a watered-down oil embargo against Russia.The landlocked country is heavily dependent on Russian crude oil supplied via the Druzhba
pipeline.Hungary has asked for at least four years and 800 million euros ($860 million) in EU funds to adapt its refineries and increase
pipeline capacity for alternative suppliers, like Croatia.But under the compromise proposal the Druzhba pipeline could be excluded from a
sanctions package "for the time being," an EU official told AFP.'New face'Meanwhile, Zelensky on Sunday made his first visit to the
embattled east since the start of the war, walking the streets of the Kharkiv region's devastated capital in a bullet-proof vest.While in
Kharkiv, Zelensky discussed reconstruction plans with local officials, saying there was a chance for areas wrecked by Russian attacks to
"have a new face".Despite an estimated 2,000 apartment blocks having been wholly or partially destroyed by shelling, the city has returned
liberate the entire area," the Ukrainian president said after the visit.
