The White House has said president Donald Trump “believes” Vladimir Putin is winning the war with Ukraine.The statement follows a Wall Street Journal that Mr Trump told European leaders after a phone call with Mr Putin that the Russian president is not ready to end the war.

The 1998 crisis worsened the situation, as a global recession and falling commodity prices led to fiscal imbalances and doubts about Russia’s ability to service its debt and uphold the fixed exchange rate. The central bank raised interest rates to 150% to try and stabilise the rouble, but this failed.

Despite Ukrainian drone attacks hitting the Russian capital, Moscow, President Vladimir Putin will reportedly 'reject' any peace deal in the Ukrainian war because he is convinced that he will win

The official assessment suggests Vladimir Putin is enlarging his nuclear arsenal not just to improve his position ion the battlefield, but also in response to global concerns about the possibility of WW3.

The Russian dictator is reportedly in a state of panic and is scrambling for defence after Ukraine carried out major strikes on a key military base 220 miles from the Kremlin

The US and European leaders are placing their hopes in the Vatican to engage Russia and Ukraine in peace talks, after President Donald Trump said Pope Leo XIV had expressed interest in the idea. The Kremlin isn’t so keen.

Moscow's airports temporarily halted flights today following what was described as a "massive" Ukrainian kamikaze drone strike on the Russian capital, with reports surfacing that President Vladimir Putin is dismissing any peace offers due to his belief in an impending victory.

Donald Trump is reported to have made the remarks following his two-hour long phone call with his Vladimir Putin.