The British government is about to outline the biggest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War as it seeks to send “a message to Moscow.”

The defence review will send a "message to Moscow" about Britain's "readiness to fight if required", Defence Secretary John Healey has told the BBC. He was speaking as the government announced it would spend £1.

As Ukraine and Russia prepare for peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, few observers expect a breakthrough. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it.

With Russia saying its terms for peace must remain secret until the talks begin, Ukraine won’t confirm whether its delegation will even attend.

By Guy Faulconbridge and Max Hunder MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) -On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia.