Donald Trump is “confident” a deal on critical minerals will be signed with Ukraine, the White House said, a move that could bolster US support for Kyiv as the US president grows frustrated over delays in clinching a ceasefire in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday he wants to see a deal between Russia and Ukraine "in two weeks or less."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the United States would give up on mediation unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals," as US patience wanes on an early priority for Donald Trump.

Russia said on Monday it was waiting for a signal from Ukraine to say it was willing to hold direct negotiations to end their war, but had not seen any signs of movement. The Kremlin said last Friday that the possibility of direct talks had been raised during a three-hour meeting between President Vladimir Putin and U.

Officials say Ukraine and Russia have targeted each other with long-range strikes amid continuing uncertainty about whether an agreement to stop their more than three-year war is within reach

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral three-day pause in hostilities in Ukraine on Monday, a move that was immediately met with skepticism by Ukraine, who reiterated that Putin accep

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to see a permanent ceasefire to ending Russia's war in Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday.

President Trump "wants to see a permanent ceasefire first, to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.