President Donald Trump, after repeatedly promising to quickly end Russia's war on Ukraine, has changed his tune and his attitude dramatically.

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.

Former US President Donald Trump suggested that it might be advantageous for the Russia-Ukraine conflict to continue for some time, despite calls from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for increased US pressure on Russia.