Russian state TV took aim at Melania Trump, saying she is responsible for her husband's apparently tougher stance toward Putin.

Over the past weekend, tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine as both nations launched attacks on each other's capital cities. Kiev experienced a barrage of drone strikes and gunfire, resulting in significant unrest and damage across several cities.

The UK announced new sanctions targeting Russia's oil sector to pressure Moscow amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The sanctions strike at Russia's shadow fleet, involving over 135 tankers responsible for covertly transporting billions in oil.

Russia now controls more than two-thirds of Ukraine’s Donetsk region — the main theater of the ground war. Russian forces have carved out a 10-mile-deep pocket around the Ukrainian troops defending the crucial city of Kostiantynivka, partly surrounding them from the east, south and west.

Ukraine's extensive use of asymmetrical tactics, and innovative equipment such as sea drones, gives the country an effective edge against its foe.

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.

In 2024, births in Russia fell to 1.22 million — the lowest level since 1999 — while deaths increased by 3.3% annually, to 1.82 million.

Ukraine holds immense geopolitical significance for Russia, and the ongoing conflict has elevated its importance on the world stage. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia’s status as a global superpower diminished,