Russia’s stalling contrasted with Trump’s rush for a valuable breakthrough as his trade policies set off stock market slumps and cast a cloud over the economy. “I think we’re going to be in very good shape to get it done. We want to get it over with,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Thursday, in an outburst of optimism that jarred with reality.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday there is a "very good chance" the war between Russia and Ukraine could end after Washington had "productive" discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

"Reports about the enemy's alleged 'encirclement' of Ukrainian units in the Kursk region are not true and are created by the Russians for political goals and pressure on Ukraine a

Russia has reportedly laid out its demands for ending the war in Ukraine and they mirror previous requests made to Kyiv, the U.S. and NATO.

The great challenge will be how to ensure that Russia does not renew its appetite for swallowing the remainder of Ukraine at the first opportunity.

Despite years of sanctions for annexing Crimea and a later full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s economy endured. Now, with Donald Trump shifting global alliances, it’s Europe that’s at a crossroads.