Putin Congratulates Trump, Says He's Open to Peace Talks

But hours later, US President Donald Trump laid bare – in a trademark casual, rambling fashion – his position over the war in Ukraine.

Trump’s comments came after he delivered an inauguration speech which, while not mentioning either Russia or Ukraine by name, was unequivocal in its nativist, America-first tone and clearly designed to leave the world in no doubt that his second term in office would be very different to his first.

On Monday, Trump returned for a second term as President of the United States, issuing a flurry of executive orders.

Donald Trump on Jan 20 spoke on the raging Russia-Ukraine war & his plans to end it.