There was a stony silence in Moscow a day after President Donald Trump signalled he had lost his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Today, nearly four years into a war that Russia is still failing to win, society editors are struggling to fill their pages. The elite have become reclusive and fearful. At this year’s St Petersburg forum they were scarcely visible, venturing out of the VIP zone only for Vladimir Putin’s panel. Some have relocated to the countryside.

Russia’s top economic envoy has arrived in the United States for “official” talks just days after President Donald Trump announced tough new sanctions on Russia, sources with knowledge of the visit have told CNN.

MOSCOW/KYIV/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States hit Russia's major oil companies with sanctions on Wednesday and accused the Russians of a lack of commitment toward ending the war in Ukraine, as Moscow conducted a major training exercise involving nuclear arms.

The European Union on Thursday heaped more economic sanctions on Russia, adding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new punitive measures the previous day against the Russian oil industry. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Washington's move an “unfriendly act” that could backfire by spiking global oil prices.

The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies as it called on Moscow to agree to an immediate ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.

Five people, including one child, were injured as a result of a drone attack on the Moscow region, governor Andrei Vorobyov said on Friday.

Kim Jong Un made the comments at the groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial for North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia in its war with Ukraine, state media said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet European leaders in London on Friday. They have pledged military support to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression if a ceasefire occurs.

Days after U.S. President Donald Trump frustrated Ukrainians by retreating from plans to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, officials in Kyiv are welcoming new U.S. sanctions on Moscow as a sign Washington may be ready to put real pressure on the Kremlin.