Ukrainian forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the east of the country as Moscow deploys more troops there after suffering setbacks near the capital Kyiv, Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday.

Russia's invasion of its neighbor, now in its fifth week, has driven more than 3.5 million people from their homes, killed thousands, sent global oil prices soaring and brought Russian-Western tensions to their worst point since the Cold War.

The United States is considering a massive release of oil reserves to counter rising oil prices which are fueling inflationary fears around the world. The International Energy Agency (IAE) will hold an emergency meeting on Friday.