The Russian leader traveled to the region in the west of the country where a surprise incursion last year embarrassed Moscow.

The Kremlin indicated on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile shield plans could force the resumption in the foreseeable future of contacts between Moscow and Washington about nuclear arms control.

Kyiv’s European allies have slapped new sanctions on Moscow, a day after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough on ending the 3-year-old war in Ukraine.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said reviving the nation's birth rate is one of Russia's "top priorities."

Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft has acquired Tomtor, the country's largest rare earth metal deposit, a companies registry showed on Wednesday, after President Vladimir Putin's call last year for development of the field to be accelerated.

Putin visited Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, which is still under construction, and spoke at a closed meeting with selected volunteers.

The E.U. and U.K. have announced fresh sanctions against Russia’s secretive shipping network, in the latest bid to cut off funding for the Kremlin’s war machine.

Russia will reportedly conduct a "combat training" launch of its RS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile on May 19, according to Ukraine's military intelligence.

The crucial fight being slugged out between Russia, Ukraine and their allies is for the ear of US President Donald Trump, who seems increasingly frustrated with efforts to broker peace.

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia would defend its ships using the Baltic Sea with all means available and that a failed Estonian attempt to seize a tanker there recently showed that Moscow could respond with tough action if it had to.