Putin ally warns Moscow will launch preventative strikes against the west ‘if necessary’ - Russian air defence units destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones overnight that targeted the capital Moscow, official

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that Russia had no plans to attack NATO or Europe but, if the West escalated the Ukraine war any further, then Moscow should respond and, if necessary,

Three days earlier, the war had spilled across the breadth of Russia as the Ukrainians smuggled a fleet of cheap drones across the border and used them to attack several military airfields, damaging or destroying Russian warplanes worth billions of dollars.

Experts fear Russia could emply battlefield nuclear weapons in Ukraine after being given 50 days to stop the fighting by the US

Officials have warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that a demographic crisis could mean the country he leads will be short millions of workers by the end of the decade.

Even as Nato chief Mark Rutte has warned India, China, and Brazil about the purchase of Russian oil, the fact remains that European nations —29 of 32 Nato members are from Europe— have given more money for energy imports than they have given Ukraine in aid.

A Russian official says American Daniel Martindale has been rewarded with citizenship for spying on Ukraine, "by decree of our President Vladimir Putin."

Donald Trump has again warned Russia that it will face "secondary tariffs" and other sanctions if it does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, but claimed he is "not on anybody's side" in the conflict

The president left the door open for talks with his Russian counterpart but complained about Russia’s continued aerial attacks on Ukraine.