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.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of trying to "sabotage" diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire. In a post on social media, he urged the US to put more pressure on the Russian president,