U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wanted to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon to secure an end to the almost three-year-old war with Ukraine, lamenting what he called the huge loss of life.

Kremlin hard-liners are calling for the dismemberment of Ukraine, while Trump is threatening new sanctions if Putin doesn’t come to the negotiating table.

Donald Trump said he would impose high tariffs and further sanctions on Russia if it continued its "ridiculous war".