Russia is currently not seeking to capture Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, President Vladimir Putin said.

"There are no such plans today," he said at the end of his visit to China, according to the BBC. 

But he stressed that Russian forces were advancing in the north-eastern Kharkiv region to create a "security zone" for Russia's border region.

Ukraine says the front line has stabilized, admitting that Russia has occupied a number of border villages.

Russia launched its offensive in the region last week, and fierce street fighting has been reported for the past several days in the key town of Vovchansk near the Russian border.