Vladimir Putin’s top diplomat has praised Donald Trump for talking about Russia’s concerns over Ukraine possibly joining Nato. Kyiv has long wanted to be a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation so it would be protected against Russia’s expansionist ambitions.

Russia welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump's view that drawing Ukraine towards the NATO military alliance was an issue of concern to Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. Trump said in January that he sympathized with the Russian position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO and blamed outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden for allegedly changing the U.

A shortage of infantry troops and supply routes under Russian drone attacks have dealt a blow to Ukrainian forces around the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk.