President Trump spoke with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia amid escalating attacks between Russia and Ukraine, even as their officials have been engaged in direct talks.
In a photo distributed by Russian state media, President Vladimir V. Putin holds a video meeting with government officials on Wednesday at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow.
With high casualty figures and the slow pace of Russia’s territorial gains, President Vladimir V. Putin could face years more of a grinding war of attrition in Ukraine.
Ukrainian volunteers identifying the remains of Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine in February. Nearly one million Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the country’s war against Ukraine, according to a new study.
A handout satellite picture, courtesy of Maxar Technologies and taken on May 27, before Ukraine’s attacks, shows Tu-95 aircraft with objects on their wings and a decoy painted on the tarmac at an air base near Seryshevo, Russia. Ukraine’s weekend assault appeared aimed at stoking fear about the other potential targets in Russia.
The second recent round of direct discussions, in Istanbul, resulted in an agreement to trade more prisoners, but produced few steps toward ending the fighting.
Xi Jinping, China’s leader, is reinforcing his bond with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. But that could hurt Beijing’s efforts to repair ties with Europe.
Increasing Western military support to India, and China’s to Pakistan, signals a shift in global alignments — and another potential flashpoint for international tensions.