Putin claims no "willingness from Ukraine" to negotiate a peace deal as he touts battlefield gains, and Kyiv claims a brazen strike on a ship far from Russia.

President Vladimir Putin said he’s willing to discuss bringing Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end, even as he ruled out changes sought by Kyiv and Europe to a US peace plan drawn up with Moscow.

The president is planning to meet with the leader of Ukraine in Florida just as the lawmakers are applying some pressure.

The staggering setback for the Kremlin occurred as fighting continued between both sides for nearly the fourth straight year and a US-brokered peace plan remained stalled.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine persists, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his nation's "troops are advancing," The Associated Press reported.

Putin said at an annual meeting with top military officers that Moscow will move to expand a “buffer security zone” along the border.

The anxiety comes as Russia's inflation remains high, and the country's massive defense spending jostles with social spending.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual marathon press conference is perhaps best summarized as a mashup of a municipal board meeting and geopolitical talkfest.

Russian President Vladimir Putin fielded many questions at his annual news conference. But amid the weighty queries from reporters about the fighting in Ukraine and other domestic issues, there also were the odd and lighter moments.

Declassified US transcripts reveal Putin and Bush privately flagged Pakistan’s nuclear risk, echoing concerns India has raised for years., India News, Times Now