Trump says he will speak with Putin and Zelenskiy

"THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK, AND TRADE," he said in a post.

Trump said he would speak with Zelenskiy and various members of the NATO military alliance afterwards.

Trump expressed hope that the talks would amount to a "PRODUCTIVE DAY" and that a ceasefire will be agreed to so this "VERY VIOLENT WAR" can end.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke with each other on Saturday, the US Department of State said.

During the call, Rubio welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement reached during recent talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey, the department's spokesperson said.

The secretary also emphasised Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence in Russia's war in Ukraine, according the department.

with AP and DPA