Two African states are frustrating Moscow's efforts to establish a stronger military presence in the continent following the fall of Assad.

BRITAIN will “step up the pressure” on Vladimir Putin in the New Year, the Defence Secretary vowed yesterday. John Healey pledged to put Ukraine in the “strongest possible position” in 2025. His

Volunteers helping to clean up a major oil spill along Russia's Black Sea coast appealed in a video released on Monday for President Vladimir Putin to urgently send federal aid, saying that they and local authorities were overwhelmed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday hosted Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, in a rare visit to the Kremlin by an EU leader since Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin has suggested missiles could be used to hit Kyiv's allies who have given Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied weapons to hit targets.

'It smells like treason' In Slovakia's capital, Bratislava, people took to the streets to protest after the meeting, with banners in support of Ukraine as well as unflattering depictions of Mr Fico on display. One sign simply read: "It smells like treason."

There are currently no prerequisites for arranging a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump. Source: Russian state agency TASS, citing Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson,

"President Putin said that he wants to meet with me as soon as possible," Trump said during his remarks at Turning Point's America Fest convention.

Vladimir Putin wants a sit-down with Donald Trump as equals in which they divide the world into spheres of influence.

Russia's war on Ukraine dominated the opening stages of President Vladimir Putin's annual marathon press conference on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Moscow, state TV channel Rossiya 24 reported.