Russian air defenses destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down at least 143 Ukrainian drones on Wednesday night through to Thursday afternoon, with at least three craft intercepted over the capital Moscow region.

Russia's latest bombardment targeting civilian areas in Ukraine comes as President Trump has set a Sept. 2 deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker responds to the 'reckless threatening' on 'Fox & Friends First' amid a rush to transfer patriot missiles to Ukraine.

The Kremlin said on Friday that it did not believe that a tougher stance U.S. President Donald Trump has adopted towards Russia over its war in Ukraine means the end of U.S-Russia talks aimed at reviving their battered ties.

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ramp up arms shipments to Ukraine is a signal to Kyiv to abandon peace efforts, Russia said on Thursday, vowing it would not accept the "blackmail" of Washington's new sanctions ultimatum.

Russian officials and commentators have shown little indication that Moscow is about to change course under new pressure.

One of Vladimir Putin's mouthpieces has warned Donald Trump that he is pushing Russia towards nuclear war. After pledging to deliver more weapons to Ukraine - including the prized Patriot air defence systems - the US president rattled the Kremlin further and threatened to unleash additional sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate a ceasefire deal in 50 days.