The appeal comes as Ukraine regains ground on the battlefield, Russian forces show signs of exhaustion, and Moscow intensifies large-scale drone and missile attacks.

Washington is also not happy about Beijing’s rare earth controls, according to people familiar with the talks.

Reports suggest Donald Trump has pushed the Chinese leader to encourage Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The appeal comes as Ukraine regains ground on the battlefield, Russian forces show signs of exhaustion, and Moscow intensifies large-scale drone and missile attacks.

Putin shows no signs of changing his stance that for the war to end, Ukraine must surrender the rest of its eastern Donbas region - a demand the Ukrainian President has rejected.

Trump backed direct Putin-Zelensky talks after Ukraine offered a ceasefire during negotiations, while analysts warned US mediation is losing momentum.