Sanctions and diplomatic isolation are weakening Russian President Vladimir Putin. Talks between other world leaders and Putin do not strengthen Ukraine, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Kyiv.

The new NATO chief has warned Vladimir Putin is ramping up "reckless actions" and is using Ukraine as a "testing ground" for missiles. Meanwhile, a respected thinktank has said the Russian leader is only interested in the "total capitulation" of Ukraine and not a negotiated settlement.

Immediate NATO protection of Ukrainian-held territory is needed ‘very much otherwise [Russian President Vladimir Putin] will come back’, he said. President-elect Trump is reported to prefer that Ukraine surrender Russian-occupied territory in order to end the war and secure NATO membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin needs a more effective military alliance in the war against Ukraine. Iran and North Korea are already allies of Russia,

A Kremlin "insider" has claimed that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is "disappointed" with Vladimir Putin's use of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine as he fears they're being used as "cannon f

This comes after Russia's 2025 military budget is said to have reached historic high spending levels as it seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. The national defense accounted for about 13.5 trillion rubles,