DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine: Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield expressed little hope for a diplomatic solution to the war with Russia, as US President Donald Trump’s Friday deadline for the Kremlin to make peace arrived and he eyed a possible summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.

Talks between Trump’s negotiator and Russian president lasted about three hours as US pushes for peace deal

US president has been unusually reticent about plans to punish Russia if it does not agree to end Ukraine war