Russia's success removes another barrier to a peace deal Moscow was reluctant to conclude with so many enemy troops on its soil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that his country has regained control of Kursk, the border region where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year, though Ukraine’s army says fighting continues.

Nearly nine months after losing chunks of the Kursk region to a surprise Ukrainian incursion, Russia has announced that its troops have fully reclaimed the border territory.

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Pyongyang admitted for the first time that it has sent troops to fight against Ukraine, according to North Korean media.

They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” Kim Jong Un said.

Russia said on Monday it was waiting for a signal from Ukraine regarding Kyiv's willingness to hold direct negotiations to end the war, but said it did not so far see any signs of movement. The Kremlin said last Friday that the possibility of direct talks between the two sides had been raised during a three-hour meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.

Russia has launched a sweeping drone assault and airstrikes across Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people

President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday he wants to see a deal between Russia and Ukraine "in two weeks or less."