Russia must prepare for a potential conflict with NATO while continuing its operations in Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced during a Defense Ministry meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

"The Russian Ministry of Defense needs to be ready for all possible scenarios, including a potential military conflict with NATO in Europe within the next decade," Belousov stated.

These Russian statements follow U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's call for a swift resolution to the fighting, as he remarked on Monday: "We're working to stop the war, that terrible, terrible conflict occurring in Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine. We're aiming for progress, although it's a challenging and troublesome situation."