WASHINGTON — President Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “kept his word” on not attacking Ukraine for one week — despite the perception that Putin broke the deal with a bombing blitz after just four days.

Russia, over the past decade, has significantly expanded its intermediate-range nuclear-capable forces — such as the Oreshnik, a ballistic missile that it has used in combat with Ukraine. China has more than doubled the size of its nuclear arsenal as the U.S. scaled back on some nuclear-capable platforms.

A day before Russian, Ukrainian and U.S. teams meet to talk peace, Putin's forces pounded Ukraine's energy infrastructure with dozens of drones and missiles.

Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, Russian forces launched 71 ballistic and cruise missiles and 450 attack drones in a massive bombardment, according to Ukraine’s air force. Air defences managed to shoot down 38 of the missiles and 412 drones.

A prescient new book outlines the future of warfare in the far north, and just how far behind its rivals the US still is.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine will "take corresponding steps" as Trump says Putin agreed to stop bombing Ukrainian cities for a week.

President Donald Trump says he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin not to target the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for one week as the region experiences frigid temperatures and Putin agreed, but Russia hasn't confirmed that.

Russia has proposed a de facto one-year extension of New START, but the president has yet to commit.