That will take some doing. Putin remains uninterested in peace talks as long as Russian troops continue to gain ground in Ukraine’s east, albeit at a slow pace, and while Ukrainian forces hold seized territory in the Kursk region inside Russia, according to John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and other former officials.

A shortage of infantry troops and supply routes under Russian drone attacks have dealt a blow to Ukrainian forces around the strategic eastern city of Pokrovsk.

Trump said his administration wants to make a deal with Ukraine to access its key natural resources in exchange for continued U.S. support.

Laser weapons could provide Ukraine with a new way of combatting Russian drones, military experts told Business Insider.

The Russians attacked Ukraine with 65 Shahed attack drones and decoy UAVs of various types on the night of 3-4 February. Ukraine's air defence has managed to down 37 of the drones, while another 28 have not reached their targets.