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.

Trump's special envoy to Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg joined 'America's Newsroom' to discuss how he believes the war will eventually end through an economic means amid growing pressure for a peace deal.

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".

"The intervention of NATO troops in Ukraine is categorically unacceptable for Russia, it will turn into uncontrolled escalation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has responded to Russia’s demand to revoke NATO’s 2008 Bucharest Summit promise regarding Ukraine’s future membership as a condition for ending the war. Source: European Pravda,