Russia’s Defense Ministry claims that Russian troops have fought their way into the center of a strategically important eastern Ukraine town and raised the Russian flag there after a monthslong battle.

Russia says it shot down more than 120 drones overnight, in what would be one of the largest attacks of the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he was open to discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump on issues such as the Ukraine war and energy prices, and said it would be a good idea for the two of them to meet.

Moscow believes it has the resources and manpower to withstand at least another year of the conflict.

Russia is waiting for signals from Washington to commence highly anticipated peace negotiations to end the war with Ukraine.

Russia on Thursday rejected the idea of NATO countries sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in the war with Russia, saying such a move would threaten to cause an "uncontrollable escalation".

Russia "will strive to make this decision part of the Alliance's policy," the state-controlled news agency quotes the diplomat as saying. Grushko described it as "one of the key elements of a possible agreement" and a component "related to eliminating the root causes" of Russia's war against Ukraine.