Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday said warned yet again that Russian forces were concentrating on the eastern Donbas region as well as the south of Ukraine, where the key port city of Mariupol is located.

Speaking during his nightly video address, the 44-year-old said, “We are strengthening our defenses in the eastern direction and in Donbas. We are aware that the enemy has reserves to increase pressure in the east.”

“What is the goal of Russian troops? They want to capture both Donbas and the south of Ukraine,” Zelensky said, echoing the words of Russian defence ministry spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov, who said a couple of days ago that Moscow’s forces were rallying to “intensify operations in priority areas and, above all, to complete the operation for the complete liberation of Donbas.”

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Zelensky declared that Ukraine would keep fighting, saying, “What is our goal? Protect us, our freedom, our land and our people.”

The 44-year-old also praised the resilience of Ukrainian forces in the besieged city of Mariupol, saying that their heroism was buying other Ukrainian cities more time.

The Ukrainian President went on to criticise Western countries for their reluctance to directly provide arms to Ukraine, especially anti-missile systems to help against Russian bombardment.

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Earlier, on Friday, however, reports emerged claiming that the US was looking to facilitate the transfer of Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine in a bid to provide Kyiv with long-range artillery capabilities.

Soviet-made T-72 tanks, which the Ukrainian military know how to operate, will be sent to Ukraine “within days” by America’s NATO allies, CNN reported on Saturday citing an unnamed US official familiar with the plans.

The move, if it materialises, will mark the first such transfer of tanks to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24.