United States President Donald Trump said it was "very likely" that the war between Russia and Ukraine would end after "fruitful" talks between US officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We had very good and productive conversations yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and there is a very good chance that this terrible and bloody war will finally end," Trump said in a post on his Twitter account, adding that he had asked Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers who are "totally surrounded."
US envoy Steve Witkoff held a lengthy meeting with Putin in Moscow on the evening of March 13.
Trump did not state in his announcement whether he had spoken with Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on March 13 in Moscow that Putin had sent Trump a message about his proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, following a meeting in Moscow with special envoy Vitkoff.
"When Mr. Vitkoff sends all the information to President Trump, we will set a time for the conversation. There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic," Peskov said.
Putin said on March 13 that Russia agreed with the United States' proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, but added that there were details that needed to be resolved first, such as the supply of Western weapons to Kiev.
The Russian leader also said that any agreement reached must lead to a long-term peace that addresses the root causes of the war, likely referring to NATO expansion.
The Kremlin said there was reason for "cautious optimism" about US President Donald Trump's proposal, but Ukraine questioned Moscow's sincerity about ending the war, now in its fourth year.
In a video released late on March 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky questioned Putin's motives, saying the Russian leader was ready to reject the proposal but was afraid to tell Trump.
Bonus video:
