But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of dragging out ceasefire talks so it can continue the war.

Vladimir Putin said Ukraine must surrender after President Donald Trump urged the Russian leader to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, following ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Russia in Moscow.

Russia’s stalling contrasted with Trump’s rush for a valuable breakthrough as his trade policies set off stock market slumps and cast a cloud over the economy. “I think we’re going to be in very good shape to get it done. We want to get it over with,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Thursday, in an outburst of optimism that jarred with reality.

Despite flirting with Trump there is little evidence Putin has shifted from his core war goals: cementing his landgrabs in Ukraine and stopping it joining NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin asked for messages to be relayed to US counterpart Donald Trump during late-night talks with American envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, the Kremlin said.

Putin held late night talks in Moscow with Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy, to discuss the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Kyiv has already accepted the idea.

By Steve Holland, Dmitry Antonov and Andrew Osborn WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump urged Russia's Vladimir Putin on Friday to spare Ukrainian troops being pushed back out of Russia's Kursk region and said there was a "very good chance" the war could end.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss the American proposal for a cease-fire in the war with Ukraine.

Kremlin says Putin expressed solidarity with Trump’s position US President Donald Trump could be set for another round of talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, after Moscow reviewed a deal proposed by Washington for a ceasefire in Ukraine and stressed it has some reservations.

The Kremlin on Friday said Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his US counterpart, Donald Trump, a message about his proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine via Trump’s special envoy. It said Putin saw grounds for cautious optimism that a deal could be reached.