As the war between Russia and Ukraine persists, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his nation's "troops are advancing," The Associated Press reported.

The loan will cover two-thirds of the country’s financial needs for the next two years. It also bolsters Ukraine’s position in ongoing peace talks.

Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors,” Putin said at the live news conference.

Ukrainian "Sub Sea Baby" drones critically damage Russian submarine equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles in Novorossiysk, the Security Service said.

Ukrainian negotiators held a new round of talks on a settlement to the war with Russia with U.S. and European teams on Friday and agreed to pursue their joint efforts, top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US doesn’t want to force a ceasefire deal on Ukraine and said the Trump administration still doesn’t know whether President Vladimir Putin wants to do a deal or take over the entire country.