One of the largest rounds of conscription to Russia’s military for several years is underway, as President Vladimir Putin pushes ahead with an expansion of the country’s military at a crucial moment in the war in Ukraine.

Russia's largest military draft in 14 years sees 160,000 men called up as Putin plans a spring offensive on Ukraine. Despite stalled U.S. ceasefire talks, the Kremlin insists conscripts won't fight.

Russian conscripts recruited for the spring conscription are likely to be forced to sign contracts to participate in the war against Ukraine, according to the UK Ministry of Defense. According to British intelligence,

The White House has defended its decision to not include Russia on its expansive list of countries that will face major new tariffs starting today. US sanctions on Moscow already “preclude any meaningful trade”,

Vladimir Putin’sRussia was one of the only countries in the world not to be slapped with additional tariffs from Donald Trump last night. The US president announced a series of “reciprocal” taxes on international imports into America which he said would boost the US economy.

Tensions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin appear to be rising, as the U.S. president admitted he was “very angry” over the Russian leader’s recent remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.