Putin ally pours cold water on Trump's favorite claim

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that former President Donald Trump's perceived simple resolution about ending the Russia-Ukraine war within "24 hours" is not realistic.

The conflict in Ukraine launched by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in hundreds of thousands of reported casualties on both sides, with a continuing stalemate likely to continue in the throes of another harsh winter. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin, mistakenly or not, admitted to losing over 360,000 mobilized and volunteer soldiers in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the 71-year-old Putin announced another run for president last week, vying for a fifth term.

On the other side, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing domestic and international turmoil. As Russian soldiers continue to move in on the Donetsk town of Avdiivka, Kyiv's vying for additional weapons and support from Western allies continues to become hazier—notably from the United States, as Republicans in the House of Representatives are wary about additional dollars being sent.