PALM BEACH: Donald Trump said Sunday he had “productive” talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin hours before the US president meets Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, in a year-end sprint to seal a deal to end the war. Trump’s renewed upbeat tone comes despite wide skepticism in Europe about Putin’s intentions after Russia carried out another massive bombardment of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv just as Zelensky was heading to Trump’s Florida estate. “I just had a very good and productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia,” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.

The Ukrainian leader says he will see the US president in Florida and believes "a lot can be decided before the new year".

Zelenskyy meets Trump to discuss potential peace agreement as Russia-Ukraine war continues, amid escalating tensions and attacks.