Russian hawks urge Putin to escalate war, drop US talks after Ukraine drone strikes

Western intelligence agencies are increasingly concerned that Russia may be preparing a limited hybrid operation targeting NATO's eastern flank, potentially involving the Baltic states or Poland.

A senior political source from a second Nato member made a similar statement last week.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was heading to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin on Friday evening, state media reported, a visit that comes amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Belarus.

The most authentic and explicit warning came from a Russian military commander who issued a stark warning to Putin in a viral footage that took the internet by storm.