"It’s very easy to draw the wrong conclusions from the war in Ukraine," Drummond said, referring to slow progress on the front line, adding that a future conflict with a reconstituted Russian armed forces would be "fast paced" with a greater use of air power in the opening weeks.

The fresh attacks came amid renewed efforts at meetings in Geneva to secure a US-led peace deal acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine, despite Vladimir Putin showing no sign he wants the war to end.

Polish General Wiesław Kukuła warns that Russia is preparing for potential conflict with NATO, prompting heightened security measures and concerns across Poland and Europe's eastern flank.

From the front-line city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk, to Zaporizhzhia in the south, there is little doubt that Russia is making advances. But, battlefield monitors suggest the picture is not quite so bleak for Ukraine as Trump and Putin suggest.

Some of America's closest European allies say they're already in a gray zone between peace and war with Russia.

Military capability of Western alliance remains 'formidable' despite questions around US commitment to untested 'mutual assistance' agreement

A full-scale invasion of Poland, in the manner Russia invaded Ukraine, is rather not viable, given Russia's current military capacities, Poland's military build-up and the collective defense guarantees of NATO membership, Michnik said, "however, this reality must not diminish Poland’s ongoing preparation."

Russia's mysterious UVB-76 radio station sent coded messages mentioning Latvia. This has fueled fears of a Russian attack and a possible World War III. The station, known as 'The Buzzer,' is linked to Russia's military communication.