Donald Trump has emphasized the need for Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach a deal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The US president-elect stressed that the conflict “has to stop” as casualties reach unprecedented levels.
He also mentioned the extensive time it would take to reconstruct Ukraine’s cities following a full-scale Russian invasion that he believes would not have occurred if he were in office.
Latest updates on war in Ukraine
This statement came after President Putin declared in a speech that the conflict was shifting in Russia’s favor after years of intense fighting resulting in Russian control over large parts of eastern Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy has long opposed any peace agreement that leaves Moscow in control of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimea region, which was occupied by Russia in 2014.
However, speaking exclusively to Sky News last month, he suggested that a ceasefire agreement could be reached if the territory under his control was placed “under the NATO umbrella” to facilitate negotiations for the return of the remaining territory in a diplomatic manner.
Russia-Ukraine latest: Follow for updates
Vladimir Putin at a meeting at Moscow’s national defence control centre. Pic: Sputnik/Reuters
‘It’s got to stop’
Recently re-elected Mr. Trump reiterated his commitment to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict and expressed his intent to engage with Putin and Zelenskyy for resolution.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Largo residence in Florida, he emphasized the urgency of halting the fighting.
“Gotta make a deal,” Mr. Trump insisted, referring to the necessity of negotiations to achieve peace.
He also recounted how images of battlefields filled with bodies reminded him of the grim scenes from the American Civil War of 1861-1865.
“It’s got to stop,” he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Zelenskyy on how ceasefire could work
When asked whether he believed Ukraine should concede territory to Russia for a negotiated settlement, Mr. Trump did not provide a direct answer.
‘A turning point’
Earlier, President Putin spoke at a defence meeting where he indicated that the growing number of men enlisting in Russia’s military voluntarily suggested a favorable shift in the tide of the Ukraine war towards Moscow.
“I would like to point out that the past year was a landmark year in achieving the goals of the special military operation [in Ukraine],” Mr. Putin told top generals at the meeting in Moscow.
“Russian troops have a firm grip on the strategic initiative along the entire line of contact,” he said.
This year, around 427,000 troops signed army contracts, a significant increase from the previous year’s 300,000, according to Russia’s defence ministry.
Addressing this development, Mr. Putin remarked, “This flow of volunteers is not ending. And thanks to this… we are seeing a turning point on the frontline.”
Read more from Sky News:
Seven tourists taken to hospital in Fiji
Deadly cyclone hits French island
Russia has made incremental advances into Ukrainian territory in recent months, reportedly resulting in significant human casualties.
However, according to open source maps, Russian troops are currently advancing at a rapid pace not seen since the initial days of the invasion in 2022.