President Donald Trump has indicated that Russia and Ukraine might need to ‘fight a little longer’ before the leaders of both nations are prepared to engage in peace discussions.

Earlier this month, Trump held significant meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an effort to restore peace in the region.

He expressed optimism that the two leaders were nearing a point where they could discuss the terms of a peace agreement and also mentioned the possibility of a trilateral meeting.

Currently, as Russia’s strikes on Ukraine continue with drones and missiles, Trump has adjusted his expectations for a direct meeting between the two nations without U.S. participation, stating to The Daily Caller that a trilateral meeting is more feasible.

‘A [trilateral] would happen. A [bilateral], I don’t know about, but a tri will happen. But, you know, sometimes people aren’t ready for it,’ Trump commented.

‘I use the analogy, I’ve used it a couple of times: You have a child, and there’s another child in the lot, in the playground, and they hate each other, and they start swinging, swinging and swinging, and you want them to stop, and they keep going.

‘After a little while, they’re very happy to stop. Do you understand that? It’s almost that way. Sometimes they have to fight for a little bit before you can get them to stop.’

But Trump accepted the war has already ‘been going on got a long time.’ ‘A lot of people are dead,’ he added.

Russian officials have railed against any suggestions from Trump that Putin meet with Zelensky, while Ukrainian officials have ruled out Trump’s suggestion that they be prepared to sacrifice swathes of land to end the war.

Trump expressed willingness to offer US air support, but ruled out putting any US troops on the ground in Ukraine to assist in the war effort.

‘Look, I’d like to see something get solved,’ he said. ‘We’d help them if we could get something done.’

Trump has repeatedly insisted Russia never would have invaded Ukraine if he were president at the time.

He also vowed on the campaign trail to end the war before even arriving at the Oval Office, but has since had to back down from that commitment as it became clear Putin and Zelensky would not back down.

Even as Trump continues to search for a peace deal, Russia continues to strike Ukraine. 

Putin launched a major air attack across Ukraine overnight, bombarding civilian homes, energy and rail facilities with 537 drones and 45 missiles.

The brutal attacks piled more agony on Ukraine at the end of a week which has seen dozens slaughtered in what Zelensky described as ‘vile’ strikes ‘demonstrating Putin’s true intentions – to continue killings, not to take steps towards peace.’

Ukraine hit back with targeted strikes at key Russian oil refineries and a chemical plant.

In the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, 14 multi-story buildings and more than 40 private houses were hit by the Russians.

One person was killed, with at least 22 injured, including three children.