'A deal is unrealistic': Kyiv divided over Trump's ability to resolve war with Russia

People in Kyiv expressed a mixture of hope and scepticism yesterday that Donald Trump can end the war in Ukraine, as Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the US president as a "decisive" leader who will bring about a "just peace".

- Luke Harding

Trump described himself as a "peacekeeper" who would avoid entangling the US in damaging foreign wars in his inauguration speech but did not mention Ukraine, or explain how he might persuade Vladimir Putin to engage in negotiations almost three years after his full-scale invasion.

Speaking later to reporters in the White House, Trump claimed 1 million Russian soldiers had died in the war and suggested that it was in the interests of both sides to stop fighting. "He [Putin] is destroying Russia. He should make a deal. Zelenskyy wants to make a deal," Trump said.

Ukrainians outside Lukianivska metro station in Kyiv the next morning - where a Russian missile killed three people on Saturday - said they were anxiously waiting to see what happened next. Behind them was the wrecked facade of an office building and a damaged branch of McDonald's, the first in the Ukrainian capital.

"I think a deal is unrealistic. Trump is blah blah blah," said Valeriia, a 23-year-old shop worker. "He promised to end the conflict in 24 hours. That won't happen. My friends are split 50-50 between those who think he can do something, and those who don't."