I predict the war in Ukraine will end in 2025. Or perhaps more accurately: the fighting will stop and the conflict will be frozen.

Both sides have recently indicated a willingness to make concessions in order to achieve a peace agreement.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News he’d be willing to cede territory, while Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to compromise.

It’s a dramatic shift in tone, brought about by the election of Donald Trump. Talks and a deal feel inevitable.

Whatever the outcome, Russia will present it as a win.

I think the Kremlin will hope to conclude negotiations before 9 May, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. The aim will be for a double celebration.

But the problems won’t end there for Vladimir Putin. With surging inflation, a sliding rouble and weak productivity, the economy will be the next battle.

Russia set to share space tech with North Korea, US says

Russia is prepared to share space and satellite technology with North Korea, according to the US’s top diplomat. 

Antony Blinken made the comments as he visited the South Korean capital, Seoul. 

“The DPRK is already receiving Russian military equipment and training,” he said.

“Now, we have reason to believe that Moscow intends to share advance space and satellite technology with Pyongyang.”

He also repeated claims that some 1,000 North Koreans had been killed or wounded fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region against Ukraine.