The continuing labour shortage has pushed up wages and increased inflation, which hit 9.9% earlier this year amid Western economic sanctions.

Trump's threat against Russia runs parallel to a Senate-led effort to pass crippling sanctions on countries that buy Russian energy.

President Donald Trump issues Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline to end Ukraine war or face 100% tariffs, prompting skepticism from the EU's chief diplomat and Kyiv's mayor over 50-day timeframe.

But Putin appears to be unfazed by these latest development and is refusing to kowtow to Trump and his demands. READ MORE: NATO considers retaliation against Russia as WW3 and plane crash fears soarREAD MORE: Vladimir Putin launches attack on Ukraine a day after Trump's '50 days' threat Instead the Kremlin has intensified its attacks on the White House incumbent,

Melania Trump has highlighted Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine in private conversations, President Trump said on Monday.

Donald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelensky should not target Moscow after reportedly privately discussing strikes on the Russian capital with the Ukrainian leader."No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Mr Trump told reporters yesterday on the South Lawn of the White House when asked if Mr Zelensky should attack the Russian capital.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's recent statements, including a threat of sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, are serious and require analysis.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed US President Donald Trump's shift on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ansa reports. Meloni emphasized that Russia does not seek peace despite the United States' willingness to engage in dialogue.

As scattered details of the apparent suicide of Russia’s former transport minister Roman Starovoit trickled in via state media on Monday, one stood out. Near his body, the Kommersant newspaper reported,