Donald Trump hints at end to Russia sanctions after ‘Putin talks’ on ‘major’ deal

says he is in “serious talks” with over “major economic transactions” between and the US.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr said the talks also involved ending the war and were “proceeding very well”.

Mr made the comments as he welcomed French President to the White House for talks on the third anniversary of ’s full-scale invasion of .

Last week he called Ukrainian President “a dictator” and a reporter in Washington asked whether he would use the same words regarding Russian President .

Mr responded: “I don’t use those words lightly.”

He added that he believes he was close to getting the war “solved”.

“I think that we’re going to see how it all works out, let’s see what happens,” he continued.

“I think we have a chance of a really good settlement between various countries and you’re talking about Europe and you’re talking about as part of that whole situation.

“The other side has a lot of support also, so let’s see how it all works out.

“You can never make up lives… you can make up money but you can never make up the lives.

“A lot of lives [have been] lost and I think probably a lot more lives than people are talking about. It’s been a rough war, but I think we’re close to getting it solved.”

The President, who is looking to end the war quickly, told reporters that a deal for access to ’s rare mineral is “getting very close”.

He said the would get “its money back” but when asked about security guarantees for , Mr responded: “Europe is going to make sure nothing happens.”

The idea was initially proposed last year by Mr as part of his plan to strengthen Kyiv’s hand in future negotiations with Moscow.

It’s not clear whether the White House has offered any security guarantees in the emerging deal.

Mr told reporters he will meet Mr Zelensky to sign a minerals deal potentially as soon as “this week or next week”.

He said they would meet in the Oval Office.