As Ukraine reclaims more land, the Turkish leader says Russia aims to end the war as soon as possible.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured swathes of north-eastern Ukraine in a dramatic counter-offensive this month
Mr Erdogan said he held "very extensive discussions" with Mr Putin at a summit in Uzbekistan last week.he gained the impression that the Russian president wanted a speedy end to the war. Mr Erdogan has repeatedly sought to mediate during the war, promoting a "balanced" stance for Nato member Turkey, while opposing Western sanctions on Russia.
Luhansk's Ukrainian leader Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces had retreated from the village of Bilohorivka - but were doing all they could to dig in elsewhere.In depth: Russia's war in Ukraine However, Russia has not given any indication that it is prepared to accept Kyiv's demands for a full withdrawal from Ukrainian territory, including areas seized in 2014.
Local Russian-backed leaders in Luhansk and Donetsk have also called for urgent referendums, and Ukrainian defence ministry adviser Oleksiy Koptyko suggested they were a "sign of hysteria" in Moscow, as well as an attempt to spur Mr Putin into action.