European Union ( EU) leaders issued a fresh joint appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump on Ukraine, imploring him ahead of his crunch summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, August 15.

President Trump says he expects to know quickly if a deal can be made with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine has retaken two villages in its eastern region of Sumy, Kyiv's military said, adding to recent small territorial gains along the border with Russia.