The Kremlin has insisted any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022. It also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO.

Moscow continues to intensify its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate.

Trump also revealed that Putin had recently offered to assist in mediating between Israel and Iran during their brief June conflict — an offer he declined. “I said, ‘No, no, you help me get a settlement with you, with Russia,’” Trump recounted. “And I think we're going to be doing that too.”