Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Russian forces intensified their attacks with barrages of heavy artillery to capture a key Ukrainian city in the southeastern region of Donbas, whose full takeover Moscow’s top diplomat said was now an “unconditional priority”.

French foreign affairs minister Catherine Colonna will meet Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv later on Monday to express France’s solidarity with Ukraine and offer more support for the country, said the French foreign affairs ministry.

Two civilians were killed and five wounded by shelling as Russian troops entered the outskirts of the Ukrainian city Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region governor Serhiy Gaidai said on Monday. Gaidai said Russian troops were attacking the city with all weapons and air support, and have entered its southeastern and northeastern areas.

Canada has provided Ukraine with M777 towed howitzers, which fire 155-millimetre shells. Last week Defence Minister Anita Anand announced Canada would be sending an additional 20,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition, sourced from the United States.