This content is was previously for Subscribers only, but is now unlocked as other outlets have begun reporting it . . . hours later. . .
Covert Intelligence from inside the Russian Ministry of Defense are confirming to me at this hour, Russia will be officially increasing the size of its standing army to 1.5 million. Effective immediately.
It appears _this_ is the "big announcement" I reported was coming this week. . .
More as I get it.
UPDATE 3:10 PM EST --
The Kremlin said that nothing good would come from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's trip to Washington on Wednesday and that Russia saw no chance of peace talks with Kyiv.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that continued Western arms supplies to Ukraine would lead to a "deepening" of the conflict - something which could backfire on Kyiv, he warned.
"The supply of weapons continues and the range of supplied weapons is expanding. All of this, of course, leads to an aggravation of the conflict. This does not bode well for Ukraine," Peskov said.
Zelensky was due to meet US President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders on Wednesday in his first foreign trip since Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into his country on Feb. 24.
Asked whether Moscow had any expectations that something positive could come from Zelensky's trip, Peskov answered: "No."
During his visit, the United States is also set to approve the delivery of advanced Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as part of the latest multi-billion dollar package of military support for Kyiv.
