Volodymyr Zelensky

To date, about two million soldiers have been killed, wounded, or missing since the full-scale invasion in early 2022, 1.4 million of them Russian.

In Ankara, Zelensky pressed NATO allies for "effective anti-ballistic systems and missiles," and emphasized that ballistic missiles were  "Russia's last major advantage."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly pleaded for the US-made interceptors - the only weapon in Ukraine's arsenal that can shoot down ballistic projectiles.

Ukraine has repeatedly said it is short of interceptors for its Patriot defense system, the only effective weapon for shooting down incoming ballistic missiles.

A senior US official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity about the trip said Trump will meet with Zelensky on Wednesday to discuss "how we can end the war."

NATO could respond to a potential provocation with attacks on Kaliningrad, St Petersburg, the Kola Peninsula, and the Black Sea, reported The Telegraph, citing German Luftwaffe head Holger Neumann.

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump complained the United States was spending money to protect NATO members "without getting any benefit from so doing."

Trump said that he would walk back understandings he reportedly reached in Anchorage with Russia's Putin last year, leading the Kremlin to question what the "agreement" was.

Sources told the WSJ that if Belarus were used for a Russian attack, it could be aimed at testing NATO defenses or more attempts at undermining support for Ukraine.

The airline will reassess the situation next week and decide whether to resume operations, with passengers to be informed and offered alternatives in accordance with the law.