The Russian leader is convinced that Moscow’s battlefield superiority is growing, and that Ukraine’s defenses may collapse in the coming months, according to people close to the Kremlin.

Trump said at a Cabinet meeting that he was "not happy" with Putin, who he forcefully criticized for a second day in a row.

Ukraine was hit by the largest airborne assault of the war after Russian unleashed more than 700 drones and missiles targeting 14 of the country's 24 provinces.