Russia is capable of mobilising its army for a war on the scale of World War 2, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned today. "If a great country needs to stand up, it will stand up at any moment. No one can have any doubts," the spokesman said during a lecture at the Victory Museum in Moscow.

"Somewhere around 30 million Soviet people... gave their lives in the fight against fascism," he said, adding that "millions" of Russians were already assisting the war effort against Ukraine by collecting aid, distributing equipment and ammunition to the front line using their own money.

Peskov's comments come as Russian authorities recruit 30,000 to 40,000 people into the army every month, sources familiar with US and EU intelligence told the Wall Street Journal. Rather than conscripting its citizens, the Kremlin has used financial incentives combined with aggressive recruitment campaigns to ensure it has enough manpower.

Putin has avoided launching another mass draft after the highly unpopular 2022 partial mobilisation that saw more than 261,000 Russians flee the country. But now, military leaders are said to be pressuring the Kremlin to start drafting again.

Despite NATO estimating that Russia is losing 1000 men every day, the current recruitment rate is sufficient to plug the gaps, according to reports. This comes as Ukraine's General Staff said on April 30 that Russia has lost 951,960 troops since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Meanwhile, the landmark minerals deal between the US and Ukraine has finally be signed. The precise details of the agreement are not yet known, however, the basis of the deal is allowing the US government and American investors preferential access to Ukraine's large amount of natural resources, in lieu of paying the US back for its billions in military aid.

Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, said: "On behalf of the Government of Ukraine, I signed the Agreement on the Establishment of a United States–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Together with the United States, we are creating the Fund that will attract global investment into our country."

It is hoped that the minerals deal will increase US financial interests in the country and help to deter future Russian aggression, should a peace deal be brokered. The revenues from the investment fund will also go to repay the estimated $175bn in aid since the beginning of the conflict.