One of the largest rounds of conscription to Russia’s military for several years is underway, as President Vladimir Putin pushes ahead with an expansion of the country’s military at a crucial moment in the war in Ukraine.

The U.S. has expanded its sanctions on Russian companies while simultaneously removing restrictions on the wife of Boris Rotenberg, a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control reported on April 2.

Putin to send top negotiator to Washington as US anger grows over peace deal talks - Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev was born in Kyiv, educated in the US, and reportedly has good relations with Washington

Germany’s chief diplomat is describing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure a truce in the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine as deadlocked

Trump has promised to bring about a quick end to the war but he has at times repeated Kremlin lines regarding the conflict.

A Kremlin spokesman says Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as “a drawn-out process,” after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries’ leaders as he tries to bring about a truce.