Donald Trump is being manipulated by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Trump’s former a former ally to the President has claimed. John Bolton, who worked as Trump’s adviser in his first term, believes Putin is attempting to influence the US President amid negotiations for peace in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces have controlled a small portion of the Kursk region since launching a surprise offensive last summer.

Russian missiles and drones have destroyed gas and energy facilities in Ukraine, with the NATO alliance forced to scramble its warplanes over Poland following the devastating attack, just days after U

In a recent interview with Deutsche Welle, Bruno Kahl, head of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), raised concerns that Russia may be preparing to test NATO’s collective defense. In his words,

Vladimir Solovyov, a Russian state TV host and key ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow could "erase" Germany "off the face of the earth" during a recent broadcast. Newsweek reached out to the German embassy for comment via email on Thursday.

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn called NATO "a thing of the past" and suggested the United States should walk away from the military alliance as President Trump pulls Russian President Vladimir Putin closer.

Citing unnamed U.S. officials, Bloomberg reported that Moscow and Washington were discussing economic cooperation in the far north, which could "drive a wedge" between Russia and key trading ally China. It could also be part of a detente between the U.S. and Russia sought by U.S. President Donald Trump.