President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia needs to strengthen its position in the global arms market by increasing exports of weapons.

The first direct Ukraine-Russia talks did not deliver a ceasefire but it did result in the largest prisoner swap of the war. CHERNIHIV REGION, Ukraine — For hours Friday, a crowd of hopefuls stood on the roadside wrapped in blue-and-yellow flags and clutching photos of captured Ukrainian soldiers — their eyes peeled for any sign of buses.

Russian forces in Ukraine have made only small territorial gains this year amid steady resistance from Kyiv’s military, undercutting President Vladimir Putin’s assertions that his army has gained the upper hand in the war.

Finland, which shares hundreds of miles of border with Russia, joined NATO two years ago, swiftly followed by neighboring Sweden.

Zelensky reveals ‘significant’ Russian losses in Kursk and says fight continues - Putin yesterday staged his first visit to Kursk since Russia claimed it expelled all Ukrainian forces from the region

The U.S. National Security Agency says hackers working for Russian military intelligence tried to access the systems of Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Uk

The NSCS said the U.K. government and its allies had exposed a campaign of "malicious cyber activity" carried out by Russia's GRU military intelligence unit 26165, also known as APT 28, against western logistics entities and technology companies.