French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump, on Monday (Feb 24), sought to mend their differences over Ukraine, with Trump aiming to strike a deal to end Russia's invasion "within weeks".

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As Trump hosted his French counterpart at the White House on the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, he expressed optimism about an impending visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who he said will likely visit this week or next, to finalize a deal granting the US access to Kyiv's minerals.

'Ukraine war could end within weeks': Trump

The US president said that the Ukraine war could end "within weeks" if we are smart.

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"I think we could end it within weeks -- if we're smart. If we're not smart, it will keep going," Trump said.

He further added that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to "accept" European troops that were deployed in Ukraine as cosigners of a deal to end the fighting. 

'Ukraine must be involved,' says Macron

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The French president told Trump that Europe was ready to "step up" defence spending, however, he hoped for "strong" US involvement in securing any peace settlement in Ukraine.

Macron said he and Trump would discuss "long-lasting peace" in Ukraine but that Kyiv "must be involved" in talks to end the war.

Also read: UN adopts resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw troops from Ukraine

Zelensky proposes ‘all for all’ POW swap with Russia as ‘start’ of ending war

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky put forward the proposal for a full exchange of all prisoners of war with Russia as the "start" of a process of ending the conflict.

"Russia must release all Ukrainians. Ukraine is ready to exchange all for all, and this is a fair way to start," Zelensky said at the summit.

He also urged for "real, lasting peace" this year as European leaders came together for a summit in Kyiv.

"This year should be the year of the beginning of real, lasting peace," Zelensky told Kyiv's backers.

"Putin will not give us peace or give it to us in exchange for something. We have to win peace through strength and wisdom and unity," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)