Ukrainian military loses first French Mirage fighter jet in crash ahead of peace talks - No casualties recorded in Kyiv’s first loss of a Mirage jet since Ukraine’s military started receiving them thi

Tensions between Russia and the neighbouring Caucasus republic of Azerbaijan are escalating against the backdrop of Moscow's war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned Baku not to jeopardize relations between the two countries because of the war.

The US returns as a seller of critical anti-ballistic systems, but remains neutral, with no ideological standpoint.

Russia's defense spending has hit record highs, but it's struggling with military modernization. Sanctions and war demands are hindering the country's tech procurement and military innovation. Russia's economy is showing signs of fatigue after several years of wartime boom.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that cooperation with China has allowed Russia to bypass Western sanctions on imports of electronics for drone production. Ukraine’s military intelligence estimates that Russia receives up to 65% of components for its Geran drones from China. Beijing rejects the claims.

Russia's drone attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure have begun to target military recruitment centers, according to a data analyst group. Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) said Russia began to hit enlistment centers in recent weeks in a concerted effort to disrupt Ukraine's mobilization.

Ukraine's extensive use of asymmetrical tactics, and innovative equipment such as sea drones, gives the country an effective edge against its foe.

Russia now controls more than two-thirds of Ukraine’s Donetsk region — the main theater of the ground war. Russian forces have carved out a 10-mile-deep pocket around the Ukrainian troops defending the crucial city of Kostiantynivka, partly surrounding them from the east, south and west.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed hope that US President Donald Trump's "reasonable" position on the Ukrainian conflict will influence the European Union's stance on the matter, RT reported on Tuesday.