Russia is expected to begin a self-declared three-day pause in fighting against Ukraine on Wednesday night, in a move derided by many Ukrainians and described by President Volodymyr Zelensky as little more than a "theatrical show".

President Vladimir Putin said in remarks published on Sunday that Russia had sufficient strength and resources to take the war in Ukraine to its logical conclusion, though he hoped that there would be no need to use nuclear weapons.

Former US President Joe Biden has described his successor Donald Trump’s stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine as a modern form of appeasement, warning that this could encourage other European countries to begin making concessions to Russia.