Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bow to a sanctions ultimatum expiring this Friday from U.S. President Donald Trump, and retains the goal of capturing four regions of Ukraine in their entirety,

The Russian president says Moscow's initial tough demands must be met, despite a looming US sanctions deadline.

If [oil prices] drop far enough, another $10 per barrel, Putin will stop killing people — that wouldn’t be so bad,” Trump said. “He won’t have a choice because his economy is in horrible shape.” Trump added that OPEC+ “plans to increase” oil production,