In their first call since the Ukraine war began, Russian President Vladimir Putin confronted French President Emmanuel Macron over Western involvement in the conflict. Putin blamed NATO expansion and years of Western military support for turning Ukraine into an “anti-Russia bridgehead.

Despite suffering over 1 million casualties, pounding Ukrainian cities nightly with missiles and drones, and committing countless war crimes, one startling fact about Russia's full-scale invasion remains — Moscow has yet to officially declare war on Ukraine.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Guy Faulconbridge ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday dismissed claims the war in Ukraine is devastating the Russian economy, citing continued growth,