His inauguration speech was loudest in its silence on Ukraine. But hours later, US President Donald Trump laid bare – in a trademark casual, rambling fashion – his position over the war in Ukraine. And it was tougher on the Kremlin than you might expect.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made positive remarks about Donald Trump’s election victory after his inauguration, saying he had “courage” and clinched a “convincing victory.” President Trump failed to reciprocate those remarks,

US president offers Putin chance to negotiate peace as Volodymyr Zelensky demands American troops join Western peacekeeping force

Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on taking office, adding that he is ‘open to dialogue’ about his bloodshed in Ukraine, which nears the three-year mark. Whatever the next four years will bring, the relationship between Russia ’s and US’ presidents will play a major role.

Trump did not mention Ukraine in his inauguration speech but has told reporters that Vladimir Putin would be destroying Russia by not agreeing to a peace deal.