Donald Trump is striving for closer ties with Russia, even at the expense of peace in Ukraine. This is the opinion of Steve Rosenberg, a BBC correspondent in Moscow. The journalist analysed the negotiations with Russia following Putin's statement about continuing peace talks.

President Trump said Russia and Ukraine were undertaking a major prisoner swap, in a post on social media early Friday. “A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The president has gone from a “24-hour” deal to “back away” in just a few months.