ROYAL OAK, MI -- A congressman from Metro Detroit on Thursday called for the U.S. to provide anti-tank and other defensive weaponry to Ukraine as fighting intensifies in Donetsk.

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak), who co-chairs the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, met with members of the Ukrainian parliament Wednesday before calling for the aid Thursday.

"The situation in Ukraine is deeply alarming," Levin said. "We're particularly concerned by signs that the Russian-backed separatists are mounting a full scale attack in the Donetsk region, clearly intending to escalate the conflict, and so blatantly in violation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement."

More than 5,300 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since fighting started in April, according to the Associated Press.

The fighting between Russia-backed separatist rebels and Ukrainian forces has intensified in recent weeks.

European leaders met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday and planed to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in efforts to arrange an end to the violence, according to the A.P.

Russia denies supplying the insurgents, but U.S. officials have sharply rejected that denial.

"Ukraine needs help to find a solution to a durable cease-fire that can lead to a longer-term solution that respects Ukraine's sovereignty, its future and its freedom to determine its own path," Levin said. "We all know that while there is no purely military solution to what is a political problem, additional U.S. military assistance can help promote a political solution."

He called for the U.S. to provide Ukraine anti-tank weapons, ammunition, armed vehicles, communications equipment and other defensive supplies.

Congress authorized sending defensive military aid to Ukraine last year.

"The Ukrainian people have shown their resolve to build a free and democratic country, and we should support them in achieving that goal," Levin said.