Ukraine holds trillions of dollars worth of rare earth elements, which are critical for the modern high-tech economy.

But, from Mr Putin’s point of view, he had good reason to be part of it. As the boss of one of Russia’s state-backed investment funds, Mr Dmitriev has been cutting deals for more than a decade. Mr Putin wants America to loosen sanctions on his economy.

A mix of stories lead Friday's newspaper front pages, including the latest in the rift between the US and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy appears to be more optimistic about help from the U.S. after meeting with President Trump’s Ukraine envoy. NBC News' Richard Engel reports from Ukraine. Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Ana Cabrera to weigh in on the negotiations.

China and Russia “cannot be moved away” from one another, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his counterpart Vladimir Putin Monday, in their first phone call since US President Donald Trump upended American foreign policy with a sweeping pivot toward Moscow as he pushes for peace in Ukraine.

Ukrainian service personnel using searchlights to look for drones in the sky over Kyiv last night If you're just joining us, we're bringing you the latest on Russia's largest single drone attack on Ukraine since the war began in February 2022: Stay with us as we'll be bringing you lines from Zelensky's news conference and continuing our coverage in the aftermath of the strikes.

Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Tuesday said Vladimir Putin should be “in jail for the rest of his life, if not executed,” as President Donald Trump appears to be seeking closer ties with the Russian leader.

Three years later, against all obstacles and all predictions, the civilians, journalists, soldiers, and waitresses are still working together. Ukraine’s million-man army, the largest in Europe, is still fighting.

A US-educated former Goldman Sachs banker, with no formal diplomatic role at the time, Dmitriev cut an unexpected figure at the talks next to more conventional members of the Russian delegation such as foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Wednesday that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pumping station in southern Russia might have been coordinated with its Western allies.