Speaking to Fox News on Friday following three hours of talks with Putin in Anchorage, Trump described the discussions as “a very warm meeting,” adding that the two sides were “pretty close” to resolving the conflict.

He said any agreement would only succeed if Kiev agreed to take part, calling on Zelensky to seize the opportunity.

When asked what advice he would give the Ukrainian leader, Trump replied: “Make the deal,” stressing that he believes Putin “wants to see it done.”

The US president said he was prepared to personally facilitate direct talks between Putin and Zelensky.

“If they’d like, I’ll be at that next meeting… Not that I want to be there, but I want to make sure it gets done. And we have a pretty good chance of getting it done,” he said.

While both Trump and Putin described the meeting as productive, no agreement on Ukraine was announced.

Putin has previously said he does not rule out direct talks with Zelensky, but insisted that such a meeting must follow tangible progress toward resolving the conflict.

Moscow has questioned Zelensky’s authority to sign binding accords, noting that his presidential term expired last year and that he has not called new elections under martial law.

Russian officials have maintained that any settlement must include Ukraine’s neutrality, demilitarization, “denazification,” and recognition of current territorial realities — including Russia’s control of Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye, all of which voted in recent years to join Russia.

The calls for talks come as Ukrainian forces face sustained pressure, with Russian troops making advances in Donbass and other regions.