U.S. President-elect Trump, who has vowed to swiftly end the conflict, is returning to the White House at a time of Russian ascendancy. Moscow controls a chunk of Ukraine about the size of the American state of Virginia and is advancing at the fastest pace since the early days of the 2022 invasion.

While pressure is mounting on the incoming administration, the screws are tightening on Moscow, whose war expenditures are sending the economy down

Putin has ruled out any significant territorial concessions and demands that Kyiv abandon its NATO membership ambitions.

Russia transferred more than 70 animals, including an African lion and two brown bears, to a zoo in the North Korean capital Pyongyang from Moscow's zoo, the Russian government said on Wednesday.

Russia has sent over 70 animals, including an African lion and two brown bears, to the zoo in Pyongyang. This gift was given to the Korean nation by Vladimir Putin. Russia has sent over 70 animals, including an African lion and two brown bears,