Trump hails 'productive' talks with Putin on end to war in Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said on March 14 there is a "very good chance" the war between Russia and Ukraine can end after "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 13.

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WASHINGTON/MOSCOW - US President Donald Trump said on March 14 there is a "very good chance" the war between Russia and Ukraine can end after "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 13.

"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that he had requested that Mr Putin spare the lives of "completely surrounded" Ukrainian troops.

US envoy Steve Witkoff had a long meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow on March 13, a source briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

The Truth Social post did not say whether Mr Trump and Mr Putin had spoken to each other.

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Putin had used the meeting to convey "signals" to Mr Trump through Mr Witkoff.

He said Russia and the US would work out the timing of a phone call between their presidents once Mr Witkoff had briefed Mr Trump.

The US President has said he wants Moscow and Kyiv to agree to pause fighting in a conflict which he warned has the potential to spiral into World War III.