US President Donald Trump expressed his desire to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as possible to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking via video link to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Trump stressed the human cost of the conflict, calling it "carnage" and urging immediate action to stop the violence.

"I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to get that war ended," Trump said. "And that's not from the standpoint of economy or anything else. It's from the standpoint of millions of lives are being wasted ... It's a carnage. And we really have to stop that war."

Commitment to peace talks

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Later in the day, Trump addressed reporters at the White House, reiterating his readiness to engage with Putin directly and noting that both sides appear willing to enter negotiations.

"From what I hear, Putin would like to see me, and we'll leave as soon as we can. I'd meet immediately," Trump said. "Every day we don't meet, soldiers are being killed in the battlefield."

Trump also claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed his willingness to work toward a resolution. "Zelenskiy told me he's ready to make a deal to end the war," Trump remarked.

Read more: Donald Trump Jr. says Zelensky desperately sought inauguration invite

Election promise and current efforts

During his re-election campaign, Trump had pledged to secure a deal between Ukraine and Russia on his first day back in office, but his advisers have since acknowledged that resolving the conflict could take months.

While addressing the Davos forum, Trump hinted at ongoing US efforts to facilitate peace but refrained from offering specifics.