Donald Trump cruised to a decisive victory Saturday in the South Carolina Republican primary, blitzing rival Nikki Haley in her home state and continuing his march to the nomination and a White House rematch with Joe Biden.

The former president compared his legal jeopardy to the historic legacy of anti-Black prejudice in the U.S. legal system.

The sanctions, described as the largest single tranche since the start of the war, also seek to impose a cost for the death last week in a Siberian prison of Putin's most vocal critic, Alexei Navalny -- with measures taken against three officials.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer arrived Friday in Ukraine in an effort to put pressure on his Republican opponents in Congress to unlock crucial aid as Russia's war enters its third year.

The South Carolina Republican primary, a significant event in the 2024 Presidential race, has been marked by a fierce competition between former President Donald Trump and the state's former Governor, Nikki Haley.

US President Joe Biden called his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a "crazy SOB" at a reelection fundraising event, earning a sarcastic response Thursday from the Kremlin leader.

At the San Francisco fundraiser event, Biden referred to Putin as "a crazy S.O.B" and ridiculed Trump for comparing his legal issues to the persecution faced by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

While the official cause of death remains unknown, the U.S. holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated, "Regardless of the scientific answer, Putin's responsible for it."

Former US President George W. Bush believed he had a "sense of his soul".

Donald Trump on Tuesday compared his own legal troubles with the persecution of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last week.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed Tuesday on his first trip to Brazil, days after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's enraged Israel by comparing its Gaza campaign to the Holocaust.

The former president has finally commented on Alexei Navalny's death, but he did not criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, who many believe to be responsible for the top Kremlin critic's passing.

US President Joe Biden is "considering additional sanctions" on Moscow after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison, he said Monday.

"The fact that he won't acknowledge anything with Navalny -- either he sides with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and thinks it's cool that Putin killed one of his political opponents, or he just doesn't think it's that big of a deal," Nikki Haley said.

President Joe Biden on Saturday told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that he is "confident" the US Congress will renew war aid, but added that without American help Kyiv could lose further territory to Russian advances.

US President Joe Biden directly blamed Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday for the reported death of Alexei Navalny in prison, describing the Kremlin critic as a "powerful voice for the truth."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken next week pays his first official visits to Brazil and Argentina, the State Department said Friday, as he looks for common ground with the Latin American powers' independent-minded leaders.

US President Joe Biden will host Poland's squabbling premier and president next month, the White House said Thursday, to shore up solidarity for Ukraine's fight against the Russian invasion.

Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon that is a cause for concern for the United States but poses no direct threat to people on Earth, the White House said on Thursday.

Putin endorses Biden over Trump for US presidency, citing experience and predictability, stirring controversy.

US President Joe Biden's national security chief will brief top lawmakers Thursday after they warned of a "serious" threat reportedly involving a Russian bid to build a space-based nuclear capability.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday a delay in passing new US aid for Ukraine was already hurting Kyiv's forces on the battlefield against Russia.

US President Joe Biden may not have the stamina for a conventional campaign but he's up to the task of governing, influential House of Representatives lawmaker Adam Smith told AFP Wednesday, dismissing speculation over alternative candidates.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Europe on Wednesday as he faces an uphill climb to quell doubts on US leadership, with Congress deadlocked on providing new aid to Ukraine and presidential contender Donald Trump lashing out at NATO allies.

Speaking about the importance of the mutual defense pact, Biden stated, "The former president has set a dangerous and, frankly, un-American signal to the world."

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will on Wednesday detail increased defence spending by members of the alliance, rattled after Donald Trump threatened to encourage Russia to attack countries paying too little.

Former US president Donald Trump defended his record on NATO Monday, saying he had made it "strong" after sparking a firestorm of criticism over comments downplaying his commitment to the alliance.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday discussed ramping up security cooperation in Europe with the leaders of Germany and France, as fears grow that Donald Trump's possible return to the White House might threaten Western solidarity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Nikki Haley's strong condemnation of Trump's disparaging NATO remarks highlights a growing divide within the Republican party.

Donald Trump sparked outcry by threatening not to defend NATO members who do not spend enough, but for diplomats at the alliance that weathered his time in office there was a sense of deja vu.