Zelenskyy meets UK PM

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR Putin on Thursday praised "sincere efforts" by the US to end the war in Ukraine and floated the prospect of a nuclear arms deal ahead of a summit with President Donald Trump where Europe has urged Trump to stand firm.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Putin was speaking to his most senior ministers and security officials as he prepared for the meeting with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday that could shape the endgame to the largest war in Europe since World War Two.

It follows intensified efforts by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his European allies to prevent any deal that carves up Ukraine's territory and leaves it vulnerable to future attack.

Putin said that the US was "making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict".