"Vladimir Putin is he a war criminal? Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal? I think you can look at instances that have happened there and certainly Characterize them as war crimes, but our intent is to end the war.

The official assessment suggests Vladimir Putin is enlarging his nuclear arsenal not just to improve his position ion the battlefield, but also in response to global concerns about the possibility of WW3.

Marco Rubio refused to call Vladimir Putin a "war criminal," despite grilling former secretary of state Rex Tillerson over the same issue in 2017. At a House Committee on foreign affairs session on Wednesday,

Ukrainian forces are bracing for another major frontline assault from Russia after learning of a large build-up of pre-battle troops in the north east.

President Putin recently visited the Kursk region, marking his first trip since Russia claimed full control after ousting Ukrainian forces with North Korean support. He met local volunteers displaying pro-invasion symbols and lauded their efforts during this challenging period.