Ukrainian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Yuriy Serheyev says the country is once again plunging into a war because of the escalating conflict in the southeast.

"Regretfully, the [Minsk] agreements are not being met and the hope for peace has been ruined. On the contrary, we are sliding back into a war and tensions are escalating," Serheyev said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

"The Russian side presents itself as a supporter of the active fulfillment of the Minsk deal but everything is different in reality," he said.

In his words, Russia continues to supply heavy weapons to separatists, while militants backed by Russian military are incessantly attacking the Ukrainian military positions around Debaltseve.

In addition, Serheyev called for condemning the blocking of the activities of the OSCE monitoring mission in the conflict area.

The envoy assured the audience that Kyiv had been honoring the commitments it had undertaken under the Minsk deal.