German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discusses his meeting with President Donald Trump and why he asked to increase the pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine.

Moscow’s possible inclusion has ‘huge support’ as Brussels expects to adopt new listing next week after a delay

But halting progress, ever-more deadly drone attacks and unmoving negotiating positions seem to have taken their toll. On Thursday, Trump used a striking analogy to concede the warfare was nowhere near over, and that he did not, at that moment, feel it was best to intervene.

President Trump said during his phone call with Vladimir Putin that he compared the war in Ukraine to a fight among children, suggesting they ‘fight for a while.’ Trump also said he warned Putin not to retaliate against Ukraine over its recent drone attack on Russian bombers.

Trump told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Russia and Ukraine were fighting like children in a park and might not want to be pulled apart yet.

Russia will respond to Ukraine's latest attacks as and when its military sees fit, the Kremlin said on Thursday, accusing Kyiv of state terrorism as U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed prospects for an immediate peace between the countries.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz encouraged the president in an Oval Office meeting to help end the war.

The German chancellor had come to Washington hoping to persuade President Trump to play a more active role in defending Ukraine.

President Trump was asked again on Thursday when he would make a decision regarding sanctions on Russia, which he's threatened repeatedly over the past several weeks.