Trump says he asked Putin to spare Ukrainian lives in ‘good and productive’ talks - Trump has also reportedly bowed to Russia’s demand to keep his Ukraine envoy from peace talks

The Kremlin said there are reasons to be optimistic about a settlement to the conflict but that more work needs to be done.

Russia’s stalling contrasted with Trump’s rush for a valuable breakthrough as his trade policies set off stock market slumps and cast a cloud over the economy. “I think we’re going to be in very good shape to get it done. We want to get it over with,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Thursday, in an outburst of optimism that jarred with reality.