Putin’s forces launch fresh drone assault as Trump says Putin wants to meet him - It comes after Donald Trump said ending the conflict within six months was more realistic than 24 hours

Russia was once again in flames today as a suspected Ukrainian drone strike' devastated a chemical plant in Vladimir Putin ’s home city of St Petersburg, leaving a "pillar of fire". Huge repeated explosions were heard at the facility in Gatchina - which makes acetone that can be used for military explosives and rocket fuel.

Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad were allegedly communicating before rebels took over the Syrian government in December.

Donald Trump has revealed that a meeting is being arranged between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The incoming US president gave no timeline for when the head-to-head might take place but has previously promised to end the war in Ukraine ‘in 24 hours’.

The UK and other Nato member states are sending 30,000 FPV drones to Ukraine in a boost to European security and to help the war-hit country to fight Russian aggression. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

An Assad official claims Putin betrayed his ally by promising support that never came.

President-elect Trump said Thursday he’s working to set up a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He wants to meet. And we’re setting it up,” Trump told Fox

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort, the incoming US president claimed talks with Russia over the Ukraine war were in the works - and shared his thoughts on a friendly exchange with political rival Barack Obama on Thursday.

Further raising the nuclear risk levels are advancing technologies. AI can dangerously automate the command and control of nuclear weapons. The increased role of nuclear energy to address climate change could increase the spread of nuclear weapons capability, unless diligently addressed.

Ahead of Trump's inauguration on January 20, the President-elect has said he is planning a meeting with Russia's leader, which the Kremlin has denied.

Kremlin welcomes meeting with Trump as ‘supermarket hit with US missile’ in Donetsk - Russia accused Kyiv of using a US-supplied HIMARS to strike a supermarket in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine