Vladimir Putin has refused to directly engage with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him “illegitimate”. The Russian president said Ukraine will have to find a legal way to hold the peace talks as Kyiv has not held any elections since Russia started the war on its smaller neighbour.

President Donald Trump breaks down his efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine and his message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on "Hannity."

The US President has limited options to pressure the Kremlin to end the war, with the main strategy being the continued support of Ukraine with military supplies, according to analysts. For over a week,