The president’s comments came after he said Crimea “will stay with Russia,” a position backed by the mayor of Kyiv, who conceded that his country may have to give up territory.

President Donald Trump on Friday called for Ukraine and Russia to meet for “very high level talks,” saying they are “very close to a deal” on ending the bloody three-year war.

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin for three hours in Moscow on Friday to discuss the U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine, and Trump said the two sides were "very close to a deal,

Russia has attacked Kyiv with an hourslong barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least 12 people and wounding around 90.

The US president says the strikes, which killed at least eight people, were "not necessary, and very bad timing".

Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least eight people, wounding more than 70 and smashing buildings in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year.The attack set off fires and six children were among the wounded,

Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Ukraine may need to temporarily cede land as part of a peace deal with Russia, Britain's BBC reported on Friday. "One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair.

"It's not fair. But for peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Despite the recent bombings this week on Ukrainian territory, which have left dozens dead, Russia claims to be "ready" to reach an agreement on Ukraine. This was expressed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview.