President Donald Trump said he will work to schedule meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky very soon.

Expectations for a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv are muted, despite the US president's threat of sweeping sanctions.

New sanctions against Russia will still kick in on Friday, the White House said, even as President Donald Trump praised a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive” – and said he was open to meeting the Russian leader as early as next week.