As President Donald Trump looks to fulfill what he says is his goal to be known as a "peacemaker" by settling the war in Ukraine, he's called for a direct line of communication with Russia's President Vladimir Putin multiple times during the first days of his second term -- saying he "really would like to be able to meet" the Russian leader soon to "get that war ended.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "manipulate" U.S. President Donald Trump by saying he would engage in talks to end the war, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Kremlin for comment by email.