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,

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,

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