In the last few hours, Ukrainian president has called the situation unfolding in the eastern Donbas region “extremely difficult”, and argued that a regular supply of weapons to Ukraine was the best strategy to maintain global stability, writes BBC.

Speaking during his nightly address on Tuesday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky said “the [full] strength of the Russian army was thrown [in Donbas] to attack”.

“Lyman, Popasna, Severodonetsk, Slovyansk - the occupiers want to destroy everything there”, - he said, referring to a cluster of cities located in eastern Ukraine.

Therefore, the supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine - MLRS, tanks, anti-ship and other weapons - is the best investment in maintaining stability in the world and preventing many severe crises that Russia is still planning or has already provoked”, - he added.

Zelensky’s comments come as Ukrainian defence officials warn Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine is now in its most intense stages, and could potentially determine the fate of the embattled country.