President Donald Trump is expected to introduce new 25% tariffs on Monday on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S., on top of existing metals duties, in another major escalation of his shake-up of trade policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have yet to discuss a possible meeting, CNN quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. It cited Peskov as saying there had been no initial contacts between the two leaders about whether such a meeting was needed or where and how it might take place if it did happen.

The Kremlin on Sunday declined to confirm or deny a US report of a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Trump said that he had “better not say", when asked how many times the two leaders have spoken. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, claims that he spoke with the leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin, about ending the war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied this information.

Russia stated its relationship with the US is "balancing on the brink of a breakup," during a press conference Monday morning.

Russia's point man for relations with the United States said on Monday that all of President Vladimir Putin's conditions must be met in full before the war in Ukraine can end, suggesting Moscow is playing hardball with U.