The Kremlin on Wednesday described as "dangerous" comments by Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing head of NATO, that a decision by the West to allow Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russia would not be a red line that would prompt an escalation by Moscow.

A pro-Kremlin narrative implicating Kyiv takes hold among some conservative influencers, as tech leaders testify on the Hill about foreign meddling in election.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, stated that NATO's stance of not taking Vladimir Putin's words about the supposed consequences of allowing Ukraine to attack Russian territory with long-range Western weapons seriously was "provocative and dangerous".

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that an order by President Vladimir Putin to transform Russia's army into the second largest in the world was needed to address growing threats on Russia's western borders and instability to the east.

Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the Russian military to expand to 1.5 million active troops, which would make it the second largest army in the world behind China. The decree would increase the number of active troops by 180,