Russia on Monday (Nov 10) declared that it was delusional to think that Ukraine could win this war, as its military claimed that it had captured three more villages on the front line. These small gains become significant as the frontlines have been effectively frozen for long periods in the almost four-year-long war. Despite Moscow's advantage in manpower and equipment, the territorial gains in Ukraine have been slow and costly.&nbsp;"The Europeans believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests through military means." "This is the deepest delusion indulged in by the Kyiv," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing call with reporters. &nbsp;He claimed that "The situation on the front indicates the opposite."The Russian defence ministry on Monday said that it had seized the villages of Slodkie and Nove in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine and Gnativka in the Donetsk region.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-s-lavrov-hints-at-possible-nuclear-test-on-orders-from-president-putin-1762669917715">Russia's Lavrov says 'preparing' for nuclear test on orders from President Putin</a>&nbsp;Reiterating Moscow's conditions for ending the conflict, Peskov said, Russia has been fighting to protect Russian speakers in the east of Ukraine, to prevent the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) military to blox moving eastwards and to remove "neo-Nazis" from power in Ukraine.Rejecting Russia's claims, Kyiv and its Western partners claimed that the conflict, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and is the longest in Europe since World War II, is an imperial-style land grab by Moscow.&nbsp;Meanwhile, speaking about the ongoing negotiation between Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-legitimate-right-russia-defends-north-korea-s-ballistic-missile-test-amid-nuke-drama-over-trump-s-remark-details-inside-1762514372066">‘Legitimate right’: Russia defends North Korea's ‘ballistic missile test’ amid nuke drama over Trump's remark. Details inside</a>&nbsp;Lavrov’s remarks come after weeks of failed attempts to organise a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, intended as a follow-up to their August 15 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.&nbsp;

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Russia on Monday (Nov 10) declared that it was delusional to think that Ukraine could win this war, as its military claimed that it had captured three more villages on the front line. These small gains become significant as the frontlines have been effectively frozen for long periods in the almost four-year-long war. Despite Moscow's advantage in manpower and equipment, the territorial gains in Ukraine have been slow and costly. "The Europeans believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests through military means." "This is the deepest delusion indulged in by the Kyiv," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing call with reporters. He claimed that "The situation on the front indicates the opposite." The Russian defence ministry on Monday said that it had seized the villages of Slodkie and Nove in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine and Gnativka in the Donetsk region. Also Read: Russia's Lavrov says 'preparing' for nuclear test on orders from President Putin Reiterating Moscow's conditions for ending the conflict, Peskov said, Russia has been fighting to protect Russian speakers in the east of Ukraine, to prevent the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) military to blox moving eastwards and to remove "neo-Nazis" from power in Ukraine. Rejecting Russia's claims, Kyiv and its Western partners claimed that the conflict, which claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and is the longest in Europe since World War II, is an imperial-style land grab by Moscow. Meanwhile, speaking about the ongoing negotiation between Russia and the United States, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Also Read: ‘Legitimate right’: Russia defends North Korea's ‘ballistic missile test’ amid nuke drama over Trump's remark. Details inside Lavrov’s remarks come after weeks of failed attempts to organise a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, intended as a follow-up to their August 15 meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed that Washington is struggling to convince Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and NATO allies not to obstruct President Donald Trump's efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Russia calls Ukraine’s war hopes ‘delusional’, claims capture of three frontline villages

As Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Alaska for a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump, his battlefield strategy in Ukraine may be colliding with a new front, economic survival. Behind the Kremlin’s confident rhetoric, signs of strain are emerging that could give Washington unexpected leverage.&nbsp;According to Bloomberg, Russia’s economic growth has slowed sharply, oil revenues have fallen, and the budget deficit has ballooned to its highest level in more than three decades. Inflation is high, interest rates are at their most punishing in over 20 years, and insiders in the banking sector are warning of a looming debt crisis.<h2>War machine vs. economic reality</h2>When Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow bet it could finance a long war without destabilising the home front. Military and national security spending has now soared to nearly $172 billion in 2025, about 8 per cent of GDP, as per Alexandra Prokopenko of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, quoted by Bloomberg.&nbsp;To keep the war economy running, Russian banks, many state-controlled and run by Putin loyalists, were compelled to give “preferential” loans to defence contractors at below-market rates. Harvard’s Craig Kennedy estimates that from mid-2022 to late 2024, corporate debt surged by up to 71 per cent, or about 36.6 trillion rubles ($460 billion), with most of it concentrated in military-linked industries.<h2>The oil price blow</h2>For much of the war, rising energy prices shielded Russia from sanctions. But now, global crude has slipped to around $60 per barrel, and Russia’s discounted oil sells for even less. As per the Bank of Finland’s analysis cited by Bloomberg, this has delivered a heavy hit to state coffers, pushing July’s monthly deficit to 4.9 trillion rubles, even worse than the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp;The shortfall is draining the National Wealth Fund, Russia’s key fiscal cushion. Economists at the Gaidar Institute warn it could be fully depleted by the end of 2025, stripping Moscow of a major buffer against sanctions.

Russia’s oil revenue projection<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>Oil &amp; Gas Revenue (RUB trillions)</td><td>Non-Oil &amp; Gas Revenue (RUB trillions)</td><td>Projected Total Budget Revenue (RUB trillions)</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>~7</td><td>~15</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>~6</td><td>~14</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>~9</td><td>~15</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>~9</td><td>~17</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>~8</td><td>~20</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>~8</td><td>~21</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>~8</td><td>~22</td><td>~35 (projected)</td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>~8</td><td>~22</td><td>~35 (projected)</td></tr><tr><td>2027</td><td>~8</td><td>~22</td><td>~35 (projected)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>(Source: Russian Ministry of Finance Budget, Janes – via Bloomberg)

Despite Russia’s war-driven fiscal expansion, oil and gas revenues, which accounted for roughly 30 per cent of federal income in 2024 are expected to stagnate at around 8 trillion rubles annually through 2027. Bloomberg notes this is a sharp contrast to earlier wartime windfalls, with global crude prices slipping to $60 per barrel and discounted Russian grades fetching just $55 by mid-2025. The resulting shortfall has widened the monthly budget deficit to a record 4.9 trillion rubles in July, forcing Moscow to draw heavily on its National Wealth Fund.<h2>Banking on trouble</h2>High interest rates, raised to 21 per cent in October 2024, the highest in two decades are crushing both consumers and businesses. Many banks are trapped: they must pay high rates on deposits and borrowing while sitting on mountains of low-yield war loans. Even defence firms, supposedly flush with state work, are struggling to repay debts.&nbsp;The Central Bank of Russia, under Governor Elvira Nabiullina, has quietly allowed banks to roll over bad loans and loosened monitoring rules for the defence sector. That makes it difficult to know the true scale of risk, but senior figures in Moscow’s own banking system, quoted anonymously by Bloomberg, fear a systemic crisis within a year.<h2>A tale of two economies</h2>Defence-linked industries are running hot; the civilian economy is barely ticking over. GDP growth fell to 1.1 per cent in Q2 2025 from over 4 per cent in 2024. The IMF has cut its 2025 forecast to just 0.9 per cent. Sectors like construction, retail and agriculture are seeing rising bankruptcies and falling demand.

&nbsp;Breakdown of Russia’s military spending<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Year</td><td>Personnel</td><td>Procurement of Weapons</td><td>Operations &amp; Maintenance</td><td>R&amp;D</td><td>Other</td><td>Total Military Spend (USD billions)</td></tr><tr><td>2006</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>Minimal</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>&lt;50</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Higher</td><td>Rising</td><td>Moderate</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>~70</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Elevated</td><td>Moderate</td><td>Moderate</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>~90</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Sharp rise</td><td>Higher</td><td>Higher</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>~120</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Peak</td><td>Moderate</td><td>Higher</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>~150</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Peak</td><td>Moderate</td><td>Higher</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td><td>~172</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>(Source: Janes – via Bloomberg)

Janes’ data, cited by Bloomberg, shows that the majority of Russia’s record $172 billion military budget in 2025 is being absorbed by personnel costs soldier salaries, allowances and benefits, leaving a smaller share for procurement, maintenance and R&amp;D. This spending pattern underscores Moscow’s focus on sustaining troop numbers in Ukraine rather than investing in advanced weapons systems, a choice that could weaken long-term military capability if economic pressures persist.<h2>Trump’s leverage</h2>As per Bloomberg, Trump has openly said Russia’s weak economy could force Putin’s hand in Ukraine talks, even suggesting that lowering oil prices by $10 a barrel would leave Moscow with “no choice” but to scale back the war.&nbsp;Putin arrives in Alaska asking for sanctions relief, while demanding that Ukraine cede all of Donbas and Crimea. Kyiv and European capitals, excluded from the talks have rejected the terms outright. If Trump uses Russia’s economic fragility as a bargaining chip, it could test how far Putin’s war economy can bend before it breaks.&nbsp;Russia’s war economy has so far defied Western pressure, but the combination of falling oil revenues, high borrowing costs, and mounting debt risk is eroding its resilience. Whether Putin can sustain his war footing now depends on two things: global oil prices and Trump’s willingness to press his advantage in Alaska.&nbsp;If Washington turns the screws, through lower energy prices or tighter sanctions, the Kremlin may be forced into compromises it has long resisted. The coming summit could reveal whether Russia’s economic armour is already cracked.&nbsp;(With inputs from the agencies)&nbsp;

Discounted crude prices, a rapidly depleting National Wealth Fund, and banks burdened with bad war loans have deepened the strain. Trump sees Moscow economic fragility as leverage in Ukraine talks, hinting that lower oil prices or tighter sanctions could force concessions.

As Russian President Vladimir Putin heads to Alaska for a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump, his battlefield strategy in Ukraine may be colliding with a new front, economic survival. Behind the Kremlin’s confident rhetoric, signs of strain are emerging that could give Washington unexpected leverage. According to Bloomberg, Russia’s economic growth has slowed sharply, oil revenues have fallen, and the budget deficit has ballooned to its highest level in more than three decades. Inflation is high, interest rates are at their most punishing in over 20 years, and insiders in the banking sector are warning of a looming debt crisis. War machine vs. economic reality When Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow bet it could finance a long war without destabilising the home front. Military and national security spending has now soared to nearly $172 billion in 2025, about 8 per cent of GDP, as per Alexandra Prokopenko of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, quoted by Bloomberg. To keep the war economy running, Russian banks, many state-controlled and run by Putin loyalists, were compelled to give “preferential” loans to defence contractors at below-market rates. Harvard’s Craig Kennedy estimates that from mid-2022 to late 2024, corporate debt surged by up to 71 per cent, or about 36.6 trillion rubles ($460 billion), with most of it concentrated in military-linked industries. The oil price blow For much of the war, rising energy prices shielded Russia from sanctions. But now, global crude has slipped to around $60 per barrel, and Russia’s discounted oil sells for even less. As per the Bank of Finland’s analysis cited by Bloomberg, this has delivered a heavy hit to state coffers, pushing July’s monthly deficit to 4.9 trillion rubles, even worse than the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortfall is draining the National Wealth Fund, Russia’s key fiscal cushion. Economists at the Gaidar Institute warn it could be fully depleted by the end of 2025, stripping Moscow of a major buffer against sanctions.

Ahead of the &nbsp;Alaska summit with US President Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin faces a war economy under severe pressure. Russia’s $172 billion military budget in 2025 has coincided with slowing GDP growth, record budget deficits, and stagnant oil revenues, eroding its fiscal resilience.

Russia’s war economy: Can Putin withstand Trump’s pressure in Alaska?

The United States is backing Ukraine, a nation pushing hard to become a NATO member, against Russia in the ongoing war that caused massive food and fuel crises globally.

The United States is backing Ukraine, a nation pushing hard to become a NATO member, against Russia in the ongoing war that caused massive food and fuel crises globally. The US is providing Ukraine with advanced military weapons and aid to fight Russia, but its attention is also diverted to the simmering tensions in the Taiwan strait and Korean Peninsula. The US military said in a strategy document released on Thursday (October 27) that China is apparently the "most consequential" challenge for Washington, but Russia presents "acute threats". ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow warns it may target Western satellites helping Ukraine in battle The unclassified version of the US National Defense Strategy 2022 said: "China presents the most consequential and systemic challenge, while Russia poses acute threats -- both to vital US national interests abroad and to the homeland." "The most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security is (China's) coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences," the strategy document said. China-Taiwan tensions The document says that Chinese actions may act as a destabilising factor and threaten peace in the Indo-Pacific region. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and tensions recently flared up between Beijing and Washington. China claimed that, in case needed, it will use force to unite the two territories. The document further emphasised the need for collaboration with allied countries and other partners to counter the dangers posed by China and Russia. The US claims that such cooperation is "foundational for US national security interests." It said, "The most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security is (China's) coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences." The Pentagon also said that it will advance its Major Defense Partnership with India to "enhance its (India's) ability to deter People's Republic of China (PRC) aggression and ensure free and open access to the Indian Ocean Region." ALSO READ | China ready to find ways to cooperate with US, says Xi Jinping ahead of possible Indonesia meet with Biden Russian threat to US As per the strategy, the threat posed by Moscow has been "demonstrated most recently by Russia's unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine. The Department (of Defense) will support robust deterrence of Russian aggression against vital US national interests, including our treaty Allies." Amid the ongoing Ukraine war, fears of nuclear weapon use are rising. The strategy document noted that the US intends for its nuclear arsenal to deter "all forms of strategic attack," including those involving conventional weapons. A senior defence official told journalists that "this includes nuclear employment of any scale, and it includes high-consequence attacks of a strategic nature that use non-nuclear means." WATCH | WION Fineprint | Is Xi reaching out to the US? × US on North Korean threat Mentioning the threat posed by North Korea to the US and its allies (Japan and South Korea) in the Korean Peninsula, the US noted that a nuclear strike would mean the 'end' of Kim Jong Un's regime. Amid North Korea's record pace of weapon testing this year, the unclassified version of the Nuclear Posture Review warned Kim against the country's growing atomic arsenal. The strategy says: "Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its Allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime. There is no scenario in which the Kim regime could employ nuclear weapons and survive." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US says China poses 'most consequential' challenge, Russia presents 'acute threats'

United States President Joe Biden said that Washington has expressed its readiness to open talks with Moscow, the Russian state-controlled news television network RT reported on Monday (August 1). The report mentioned that the negotiation is apparently "a new arms control framework" with Russia to potentially replace the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).&nbsp;

As quoted by the RT website, Biden said: "Today, my Administration is ready to expeditiously negotiate a new arms control framework to replace New START when it expires in 2026. But negotiation requires a willing partner operating in good faith."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-military-will-not-sit-idly-by-ahead-of-nancy-pelosis-taiwan-visit-502554">China says military will 'not sit idly by' ahead of Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit</a>&nbsp;

Biden claimed that Moscow "has shattered peace in Europe" with its "brutal and unprovoked" military operation in Ukraine, which became "an attack on fundamental tenets of international order."&nbsp;

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to invade Ukraine, what Moscow calls it "special military operations".&nbsp;

As per the report, Biden further stated: "In this context, Russia should demonstrate that it is ready to resume work on nuclear arms control with the United States."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-can-build-a-bomb-but-has-no-intention-of-doing-so-says-nuclear-chief-502593">Iran can build atom bomb but has no intention of doing so, says nuclear chief</a>&nbsp;

New START

Importantly, the New START is a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the US and Russia with the formal name of Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. It was signed on 8 April 2010 in Prague. After ratification, it entered into force on 5 February 2011.&nbsp;

US mentioned that the New START limits all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. The deal also limits the deployed Avangard and Sarmat, which are said to be the two most operationally available new long-range nuclear weapons of Russia.&nbsp;

The New START basically limits every Russian nuclear warhead that is loaded onto an intercontinental-range ballistic missile that can reach the United States in approximately 30 minutes.&nbsp;

Biden to&nbsp;China

While mentioning China, Biden asked Beijing to take part in talks on nuclear disarmament. As per the report, he said: "China also has a responsibility as an NPT nuclear weapons state and a member of the P5 to engage in talks that will reduce the risk of miscalculation and address destabilizing military dynamics."

"There is no benefit to any of our nations, or for the world, to resist&nbsp;substantive engagement on arms control and nuclear non-proliferation,"&nbsp;Biden added.&nbsp;

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United States President Joe Biden said that Washington has expressed its readiness to open talks with Moscow, the Russian state-controlled news television network RT reported on Monday (August 1).

United States President Joe Biden said that Washington has expressed its readiness to open talks with Moscow, the Russian state-controlled news television network RT reported on Monday (August 1). The report mentioned that the negotiation is apparently "a new arms control framework" with Russia to potentially replace the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). As quoted by the RT website, Biden said: "Today, my Administration is ready to expeditiously negotiate a new arms control framework to replace New START when it expires in 2026. But negotiation requires a willing partner operating in good faith." ALSO READ | China says military will 'not sit idly by' ahead of Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit Biden claimed that Moscow "has shattered peace in Europe" with its "brutal and unprovoked" military operation in Ukraine, which became "an attack on fundamental tenets of international order." On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to invade Ukraine, what Moscow calls it "special military operations". As per the report, Biden further stated: "In this context, Russia should demonstrate that it is ready to resume work on nuclear arms control with the United States." ALSO READ | Iran can build atom bomb but has no intention of doing so, says nuclear chief New START Importantly, the New START is a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the US and Russia with the formal name of Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. It was signed on 8 April 2010 in Prague. After ratification, it entered into force on 5 February 2011. US mentioned that the New START limits all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. The deal also limits the deployed Avangard and Sarmat, which are said to be the two most operationally available new long-range nuclear weapons of Russia. The New START basically limits every Russian nuclear warhead that is loaded onto an intercontinental-range ballistic missile that can reach the United States in approximately 30 minutes. Biden to China While mentioning China, Biden asked Beijing to take part in talks on nuclear disarmament. As per the report, he said: "China also has a responsibility as an NPT nuclear weapons state and a member of the P5 to engage in talks that will reduce the risk of miscalculation and address destabilizing military dynamics." "There is no benefit to any of our nations, or for the world, to resist substantive engagement on arms control and nuclear non-proliferation," Biden added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Joe Biden offers to negotiate a new arms control framework with Russia to replace New START

A senior United States administration official on Saturday (January 8) said that Washington is ready to discuss the missile systems, military exercises, Ukraine tensions with Russia. The talks that could begin as early as Sunday in Geneva, media reports stated, citing a special telephone briefing for reporters.&nbsp;

Amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, US and Russian diplomats are meeting in Switzerland to try to defuse tensions.&nbsp;

The senior official said that "there are some areas... where we think it might be possible to make progress," provided any promises are "reciprocal".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-talks-on-ukraine-blinken-says-nato-prepared-to-respond-to-russian-aggression-443219">Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken says NATO prepared to respond to Russian aggression</a>

"Russia has said it feels threatened by the prospect of offensive missile systems being placed in Ukraine... The United States has no intention of doing that. So this is one area where we may be able to reach an understanding if Russia is willing to make a reciprocal commitment," said the official, who requested anonymity.&nbsp;

"Russia has also expressed an interest in discussing the future of certain missile systems in Europe, along the lines of the INF Treaty, which receive Russia violated and the previous US administration withdrew from. We are open to discussing this possibility as well," he added.

The official said that Moscow has also expressed an interest in discussing the future of certain missile systems in Europe, along the lines of the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty). &nbsp;He added that the US is "open to discussing this.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-members-express-solidarity-ahead-of-russia-talks-we-are-also-consulting-with-other-key-partners-443099">NATO members express solidarity ahead of Russia talks: 'We are also consulting with other key partners'</a>

US-Russia talks

According to a State Department spokesperson, US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman is to meet Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov for the Sunday evening talks.&nbsp;

Sherman will be accompanied by Lieutenant General James Mingus, the Joint Staff director of operations, and Ryabkov will attend the talks with Russian deputy defence minister Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin.

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(With inputs from agencies)

A senior United States administration official on Saturday (January 8) said that Washington is ready to discuss the missile systems, military exercises, Ukraine tensions with Russia.

A senior United States administration official on Saturday (January 8) said that Washington is ready to discuss the missile systems, military exercises, Ukraine tensions with Russia. The talks that could begin as early as Sunday in Geneva, media reports stated, citing a special telephone briefing for reporters. Amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, US and Russian diplomats are meeting in Switzerland to try to defuse tensions. The senior official said that "there are some areas... where we think it might be possible to make progress," provided any promises are "reciprocal". ALSO READ | Ahead of talks on Ukraine, Blinken says NATO prepared to respond to Russian aggression "Russia has said it feels threatened by the prospect of offensive missile systems being placed in Ukraine... The United States has no intention of doing that. So this is one area where we may be able to reach an understanding if Russia is willing to make a reciprocal commitment," said the official, who requested anonymity. "Russia has also expressed an interest in discussing the future of certain missile systems in Europe, along the lines of the INF Treaty, which receive Russia violated and the previous US administration withdrew from. We are open to discussing this possibility as well," he added. The official said that Moscow has also expressed an interest in discussing the future of certain missile systems in Europe, along the lines of the INF Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty). He added that the US is "open to discussing this. ALSO READ | NATO members express solidarity ahead of Russia talks: 'We are also consulting with other key partners' US-Russia talks According to a State Department spokesperson, US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman is to meet Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov for the Sunday evening talks. Sherman will be accompanied by Lieutenant General James Mingus, the Joint Staff director of operations, and Ryabkov will attend the talks with Russian deputy defence minister Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin. × (With inputs from agencies)

US ready to talk missiles and military exercises in Ukraine with Russia: Official

US President Donald Trump has imposed another round of sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain, the White House said on Friday, a move Moscow said would hurt already strained US-Russia ties.

The move came hours before a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-formally-withdraws-from-1987-nuclear-pact-with-russia-mike-pompeo-240169">landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty expired</a>, after Washington withdrew, accusing Moscow of violating it, which Russia denies.

Washington imposed an initial batch of sanctions last year on Russia after determining that Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, in Britain, which Moscow denies.

“After the first round of sanctions in response to Russia’s assassination attempt against a private citizen in the UK, Russia did not provide the assurances required under US&nbsp;law," said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.

"So we are imposing a second round of sanctions. It’s another instance where we’re proving tougher on Russia than previous administrations.”

Skripal, a former colonel in Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, and his daughter were found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury in March last year after Novichok nerve agent was smeared on his front door.

A woman who lives nearby later died after her partner found the poison in a discarded perfume bottle and brought it home.

European countries and the United States expelled 100 Russian diplomats after the attack. London has charged two Russian men in absentia. The men appeared on Russian TV saying they had visited Salisbury as tourists.

The White House said on Friday that President Trump had signed an executive order, under which the US&nbsp;government would block international financial institutions such as the World Bank from lending to governments subject to US&nbsp;sanctions for using chemical or nuclear weapons.

The Russian rouble dipped to 65 versus the dollar on Friday for the first time in seven weeks, a fall analysts said could partly be attributed to the reported sanctions move.

"I think that this is primarily connected to US&nbsp;domestic politics," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RT TV channel.

Ryabkov said he regretted that US-Russia ties, already strained by differences over everything from Syria to Ukraine, had become a political football in the United States.

Russian officials have repeatedly complained about what they say is Trump's lack of room for manoeuvre, due to pressure on him from Congress and political rivals to look tough in the wake of accusations Moscow helped him win election in 2016.

Former US&nbsp;special prosecutor Robert Mueller indicted dozens of Russians for what his office called a state-run plot to influence the election to help Trump win. Moscow has denied the accusations. Trump calls the investigation a witch hunt.

Ryabkov said Moscow linked the sanctions to upcoming presidential elections in the United States and said Moscow was ready to defend itself from any negative consequences caused by the new restrictions.

US President Donald Trump has imposed another round of sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain, the White House said on Friday, a move Moscow said would hurt already strained US-Russia ties.

US President Donald Trump has imposed another round of sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of a former spy in Britain, the White House said on Friday, a move Moscow said would hurt already strained US-Russia ties. The move came hours before a landmark Cold War-era arms control treaty expired, after Washington withdrew, accusing Moscow of violating it, which Russia denies. Washington imposed an initial batch of sanctions last year on Russia after determining that Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter Yulia, in Britain, which Moscow denies. “After the first round of sanctions in response to Russia’s assassination attempt against a private citizen in the UK, Russia did not provide the assurances required under US law," said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley. "So we are imposing a second round of sanctions. It’s another instance where we’re proving tougher on Russia than previous administrations.” Skripal, a former colonel in Russia’s GRU military intelligence service, and his daughter were found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury in March last year after Novichok nerve agent was smeared on his front door. A woman who lives nearby later died after her partner found the poison in a discarded perfume bottle and brought it home. European countries and the United States expelled 100 Russian diplomats after the attack. London has charged two Russian men in absentia. The men appeared on Russian TV saying they had visited Salisbury as tourists. The White House said on Friday that President Trump had signed an executive order, under which the US government would block international financial institutions such as the World Bank from lending to governments subject to US sanctions for using chemical or nuclear weapons. The Russian rouble dipped to 65 versus the dollar on Friday for the first time in seven weeks, a fall analysts said could partly be attributed to the reported sanctions move. "I think that this is primarily connected to US domestic politics," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RT TV channel. Ryabkov said he regretted that US-Russia ties, already strained by differences over everything from Syria to Ukraine, had become a political football in the United States. Russian officials have repeatedly complained about what they say is Trump's lack of room for manoeuvre, due to pressure on him from Congress and political rivals to look tough in the wake of accusations Moscow helped him win election in 2016. Former US special prosecutor Robert Mueller indicted dozens of Russians for what his office called a state-run plot to influence the election to help Trump win. Moscow has denied the accusations. Trump calls the investigation a witch hunt. Ryabkov said Moscow linked the sanctions to upcoming presidential elections in the United States and said Moscow was ready to defend itself from any negative consequences caused by the new restrictions.

US imposes new sanctions on Russia over Skripal poisoning

Outgoing US President Barack Obama&#39;s final press conference took on a&nbsp;political&nbsp;edge as he promised&nbsp;to raise his voice if President-elect Donald Trump disrupts core values and assured Americans, &quot;we&#39;ll be okay&quot;.

The 55-year-old said he wanted to do some writing and spend time with his daughters, but he will speak out if he saw &quot;systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion.&nbsp;I put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise.&quot;

&quot;There&#39;s a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake,&quot; Obama told reporters.&nbsp;

Reassuring the American public, Obama said, &quot;I have offered my best advice,&quot; to Donald Trump.&nbsp;

&quot;I can tell you that -- this is something I have told him -- that this is a job of such magnitude that you can&#39;t do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team.&quot;

He also warned Trump to think well before deciding foreign policy, which may be popular at home but could have consequences.

&quot;It&#39;s a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive.&quot;

He also defended his decision to commute the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, who was serving a prison sentence of 35 years for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks.&nbsp;

&quot;Let&#39;s be clear. Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence,&quot; Obama said. &quot;I know I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent.&quot;

Obama&#39;s decision was slammed by Republicans who have accused Manning of being a traitor.&nbsp;

When asked about Trump&#39;s intention to mend ties with Russia, Obama said it was &quot;in America&#39;s interest and the world&#39;s interest.&quot;

However Putin&#39;s&nbsp;&quot;adversarial spirit&quot; had &quot;made the relationship more difficult,&quot; Obama said.&nbsp;Obama&#39;s administration had imposed sanctions on Russia in 2014 after Putin&#39;s forces annexed&nbsp;the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine.&nbsp;

&quot;Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory and meddle in Ukrainian affairs,&quot; Obama told reporters.&nbsp;&quot;I think it would probably best serve, not only American interests, but also the interests of preserving international norms if we made sure that we don&#39;t confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues,&quot; he said.

&quot;It is important for the United States to stand up for the basic principal that big countries don&#39;t go around and invade and bully smaller countries,&quot; the Democratic president added.

President-elect Trump&nbsp;has said he wants to improve ties with Russia, despite allegations by US&nbsp;intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber campaign to boost Trump&#39;s campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Moscow has denied the allegations.

Obama worked on a nuclear arms control agreement with Moscow early in his presidency, resulting in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed in 2010.&nbsp;&quot;I was prepared to go further, I told President Putin I was prepared to go further. They have been unwilling to negotiate,&quot; Obama said, blaming Putin for &quot;escalating anti-American rhetoric&quot;.&nbsp;

Obama said a more &quot;constructive relationship&quot; with Russia would be a good goal. The United States and Russia are by far the world`s biggest nuclear powers.

&quot;If President-elect Trump is able to restart those talks in a serious way, I think there remains a lot of room for our two countries to reduce our stockpiles,&quot; Obama said.

Voicing his support for the White House press corps, he said, &quot;We are accountable to the people who send us here. And you have done it,&quot; Obama said. &quot;You&#39;re not supposed to be sycophants. You&#39;re supposed to be skeptics .&quot;

Trump who has had a contentious relationship with the media, suggested evicting the White House press corps from the West Wing, putting an end to daily press briefings and access.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

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In his farewell press conference, Obama promised?to raise his voice if President-elect Donald Trump disrupts American values

Outgoing US President Barack Obama's final press conference took on a political edge as he promised to raise his voice if President-elect Donald Trump disrupts core values and assured Americans, "we'll be okay". The 55-year-old said he wanted to do some writing and spend time with his daughters, but he will speak out if he saw "systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion. I put in that category explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise." "There's a difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake," Obama told reporters. Reassuring the American public, Obama said, "I have offered my best advice," to Donald Trump. "I can tell you that -- this is something I have told him -- that this is a job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team." He also warned Trump to think well before deciding foreign policy, which may be popular at home but could have consequences. "It's a volatile environment. What we have seen in the past is when some unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive." He also defended his decision to commute the sentence of transgender army private Chelsea Manning, who was serving a prison sentence of 35 years for leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. "Let's be clear. Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence," Obama said. "I know I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent." Obama's decision was slammed by Republicans who have accused Manning of being a traitor. When asked about Trump's intention to mend ties with Russia, Obama said it was "in America's interest and the world's interest." However Putin's "adversarial spirit" had "made the relationship more difficult," Obama said. Obama's administration had imposed sanctions on Russia in 2014 after Putin's forces annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine. "Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory and meddle in Ukrainian affairs," Obama told reporters. "I think it would probably best serve, not only American interests, but also the interests of preserving international norms if we made sure that we don't confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues," he said. "It is important for the United States to stand up for the basic principal that big countries don't go around and invade and bully smaller countries," the Democratic president added. President-elect Trump has said he wants to improve ties with Russia, despite allegations by US intelligence agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber campaign to boost Trump's campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Moscow has denied the allegations. Obama worked on a nuclear arms control agreement with Moscow early in his presidency, resulting in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty signed in 2010. "I was prepared to go further, I told President Putin I was prepared to go further. They have been unwilling to negotiate," Obama said, blaming Putin for "escalating anti-American rhetoric". Obama said a more "constructive relationship" with Russia would be a good goal. The United States and Russia are by far the world`s biggest nuclear powers. "If President-elect Trump is able to restart those talks in a serious way, I think there remains a lot of room for our two countries to reduce our stockpiles," Obama said. Voicing his support for the White House press corps, he said, "We are accountable to the people who send us here. And you have done it," Obama said. "You're not supposed to be sycophants. You're supposed to be skeptics ." Trump who has had a contentious relationship with the media, suggested evicting the White House press corps from the West Wing, putting an end to daily press briefings and access. (WION with inputs from AFP)

I think our core values may be at stake: Obama

President Vladimir Putin ruled out on Friday expelling anyone in retaliation for Washington&#39;s decision to throw out 35 Russian diplomats and impose sanctions on two of the country&#39;s intelligence agencies.

RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US&nbsp;relations.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed to Putin that Moscow expel 35 US&nbsp;diplomats and ban US&nbsp;diplomatic staff from using two facilities in Moscow, his ministry said.

This followed President Barack Obama&#39;s decision to expel the 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying and to impose sanctions on the two Russian intelligence agencies over their alleged involvement in hacking US&nbsp;political groups in the 2016 presidential election. Lavrov said the allegations that Russia interfered in U.S. elections were baseless.

Putin rejected Lavrov&#39;s plan. &quot;We will not expel anyone,&quot; he said in a statement. He also said he saw the sanctions as another step to undermine relations between Moscow and Washington, and he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way.

Russian officials have portrayed the US&nbsp;sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested that Trump could reverse them when he takes over the White House in January.

Earlier Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said the Obama administration was ending its term in &quot;anti-Russia death throes&quot;.

&quot;It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia death throes. RIP,&quot; Medvedev, who served as president in 2009 when Obama tried to improve Russia-US&nbsp;relations, wrote on his official Facebook page.

The US&nbsp;sanctions also closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for &quot;intelligence-related purposes&quot;.

(Reuters)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier proposed to expel US?diplomats in retaliation

President Vladimir Putin ruled out on Friday expelling anyone in retaliation for Washington's decision to throw out 35 Russian diplomats and impose sanctions on two of the country's intelligence agencies. RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US relations. Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed to Putin that Moscow expel 35 US diplomats and ban US diplomatic staff from using two facilities in Moscow, his ministry said. This followed President Barack Obama's decision to expel the 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying and to impose sanctions on the two Russian intelligence agencies over their alleged involvement in hacking US political groups in the 2016 presidential election. Lavrov said the allegations that Russia interfered in U.S. elections were baseless. Putin rejected Lavrov's plan. "We will not expel anyone," he said in a statement. He also said he saw the sanctions as another step to undermine relations between Moscow and Washington, and he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way. Russian officials have portrayed the US sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested that Trump could reverse them when he takes over the White House in January. Earlier Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said the Obama administration was ending its term in "anti-Russia death throes". "It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia death throes. RIP," Medvedev, who served as president in 2009 when Obama tried to improve Russia-US relations, wrote on his official Facebook page. The US sanctions also closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes". (Reuters)

Russia's Putin rules out expelling US diplomats

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