Vladimir Putin

He is perceived to be losing the war in Ukraine and is described as desperate, with potential to expand the conflict.

The Russian President vowed to expand his country's constellation of domestically produced satellites and step up strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Putin refused peace talks with Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian forces to strike St. Petersburg, setting a Russian defence ministry facility ablaze and disrupting airport operations.

Putin accused Europe of plunging the world into chaos while ignoring Zelensky's offer of face-to-face talks, as Ukraine struck a St Petersburg oil plant.

Putin is hosting his fifth wartime economic conference in St. Petersburg amid signs of Russian economic stagnation, while the Kremlin responded to Zelensky's letter by saying he could visit Moscow any time.

Putin is preparing a key public speech as Ukraine strikes cargo ships in the Sea of Azov and admits responsibility for a drone blast in Romania.

Ukrainian drones struck oil storage facilities near St. Petersburg just days before Putin was scheduled to address Russia's flagship economic forum, a significant symbolic and operational blow.