U.S. President Donald Trump said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine must end after holding what he described as good talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The meeting came as U.S. and Ukrainian officials continued weeks of high-level shuttle diplomacy aimed at securing a settlement to the nearly four-year conflict, even as fighting and airstrikes persisted across Ukraine.
Trump said discussions with Zelenskiy were part of an ongoing process and offered no details on specific outcomes, while indicating that American envoys were traveling onward for talks with Russian officials.
Trump told reporters his message to Putin was clear, saying, "The war has to end."
His comments followed an hour-long meeting with Zelenskiy, who had said he would only attend Davos if progress could be made on U.S. security guarantees and post-war reconstruction funding, though no agreement was announced.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said negotiations were close to resolution, describing the remaining disagreement as a single unresolved issue without elaborating.
Recent discussions have focused on eastern Ukraine, including proposals around the future status of Donbas, security guarantees, and economic arrangements tied to a potential demilitarised zone.
Witkoff and fellow envoy Jared Kushner were due to meet Putin in Moscow later on Thursday, after which talks were expected to continue in Abu Dhabi with military representatives.
The Kremlin confirmed the Moscow meeting would address Ukraine and related matters, while declining to comment on expectations for a breakthrough.
Financial markets reacted cautiously, with Ukraine’s international bonds rising as diplomatic activity raised hopes of progress.
Even as talks intensified, Russian attacks continued across Ukraine on Thursday.
In the southern region of Odesa, a drone strike on an apartment building killed a 17-year-old, according to regional officials.
In the central city of Kryvyi Rih, a ballistic missile hit a residential building, wounding 11 people.
Kyiv remained heavily affected by earlier strikes, with thousands of high-rise buildings still without heating amid winter conditions.
Zelenskiy, facing domestic pressure from energy disruptions, was scheduled to address the forum after his meeting with Trump.
Both sides signaled that negotiations remained active but unresolved, underscoring the contrast between diplomatic momentum and ongoing violence on the ground.