US President Donald Trump has the potential to swiftly end the Ukraine conflict by pushing for Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions, recognizing territorial changes, and normalizing US-Russia relations, according to renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs.

"If Trump acts like a real president, he can push this through: no NATO, de facto recognition of territorial changes, and normalization of relations of Russia and US," said Sachs, who heads the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

Sachs added that if Trump follows through on these steps, the war could end quickly. However, he warned that Trump remains vulnerable to external pressures: "Trump is too easily swayed, so we still wait to see what he will do."

US, Ukraine report breakthrough after 'most productive' talks yet

The United States and Ukraine signaled a breakthrough on Sunday after a new round of negotiations on Washington’s proposed peace framework for ending the war with Russia, with officials from both delegations describing the talks as the most constructive to date.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the US mission in Geneva, said the opening session set a new benchmark for the process. It was, he noted, "probably the most productive and meaningful meeting so far in this entire process," adding that negotiators were now working through issues "point by point" with input from all sides.

Rubio explained that the teams had temporarily separated to refine technical proposals aimed at reducing the remaining disagreements. "We're working through making some changes, some adjustments, in the hopes of further narrowing the differences and getting closer to something that both Ukraine and obviously the United States are very comfortable with," he said.

He added that any final document would require presidential approval, but stressed, "I feel very comfortable about that happening." The US, he said, now has "substantial insights" into Moscow’s priorities.