Trump and Putin to hold ceasefire call but Zelensky sceptical Russia wants peace

US President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan in 2019 (Susan Walsh/AP)

US President Donald Trump is to hold talks on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he looks to get buy-in on a US ceasefire proposal he hopes can create a pathway to ending Russia’s devastating war on Ukraine.

The White House is optimistic that peace is within reach even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains sceptical that Putin is doing much beyond paying lip service to Mr Trump as Russian forces continue to pound his country.