European Union leaders agreed to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidate EU members.
Russian forces seized two more settlements near the strategic city of Lysychansk in their drive to capture the rest of the eastern Luhansk region, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine's forces control about 45% of the eastern Donetsk region, a regional military chief said, adding that more than 100 towns and villages had no gas or electricity.
President Vladimir Putin said Russia is diverting trade to "trusted international partners" such as Brazil, India, China and South Africa as the West tries to sever economic ties, during his video address at the virtual BRICS Summit.
