The development follows US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi during the week, which produced no breakthrough. Russia continues to press Ukraine to give up the Donbas region, a condition Kyiv says it will never accept.

Since the collapse of the old Soviet Union, Russia has cut a substantially diminished figure on the international stage.

A ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction of the reactor building's foundation for Hungary's Paks II nuclear power plant.  ;

China says it will not join nuclear talks "at this stage" after the expiry of the US-Russian New START treaty triggered fears of a global arms race. "China has always kept its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and is not engaging in an arms race with any country,

China has firmly rejected U.S. calls to join nuclear arms control talks with Russia, particularly following the recent expiration of the New START treaty. This development leaves the U.S. and Russia without binding limits on their nuclear arsenals for the first time in decades.

Roscosmos has signed a contract with NPO Lavochkin for the creation of a Russian lunar power station by 2036 - with an expectation it will necessitate three missions to the Moon, in 2033, 2034 and 2035.