When Timothy Ash travelled around the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, he met young veterans who had returned from the war in Afghanistan...

Vladimir Putin has signed off increasing Russia's military spending by 25% - to 32.5% of the total budget - the equivalent of £99.5bn. Meanwhile, the new EU Council president Antonio Costa and high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas are visiting Ukraine on their first day.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work “directly” with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyiv’s eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks.