Donald Trump has said Russia has “all the cards” in negotiations to end the war with Ukraine – as Sir Keir Starmer held talks with the French president to “compare notes”.
Speaking at the White House, the US president reiterated his desire to get a deal done to end the conflict, which he warned “could lead to World War Three”.
But he said he had found it “more difficult” to deal with Ukraine, and suggested it may be easier to deal with Moscow, because “they have all the cards”.
He was also asked if Vladimir Putin was taking advantage of the decision by the US to stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, following a series of air attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent days.
“I think he’s doing what anyone else would do,” Mr Trump replied.
However, he said he believed Mr Putin wanted to get the war “stopped and settled”.
“I think both parties want to settle. I think we are going to get it settled,” he added.
While on social media on Friday, Mr Trump said he was “strongly considering” placing additional sanctions on Russia to force it into peace talks with Ukraine.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” Mr Trump said.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to “compare notes” on their work towards a possible peace in Ukraine, Downing Street said.
The call, which took place on Friday evening, followed a call between the prime minister and other European leaders after European countries agreed a massive increase in defence spending.
Sir Keir and Mr Macron have been leading efforts to draw together a “coalition of the willing” to help Kyiv.
On Friday, Mr Trump also suggested his priorities are in a different order to Ukraine’s – saying he wants the fighting to end before any security guarantees are made.
“Before I even think about that, I want to settle the war, get it finished,” he said.
“As far as the question about security later, that’s the easy part. The hard part is getting it settled.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said his country needs “reliable and clear” security guarantees before a peace deal with Russia can be agreed.
Relations between the US and Ukraine have become fractured in recent weeks.
Mr Trump’s latest comments come exactly a week after his disastrous Oval Office meeting with Mr Zelenskyy – which saw the US president and his vice president, JD Vance, berate the Ukrainian leader and accuse him of being “disrespectful”.