​​​​​​​WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump maintained Thursday that his administration is "putting a lot of pressure on Russia" amid US-brokered negotiations to bring the Kremlin's war on Ukraine to an end.

"We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia. And Russia knows that, and some people that are close to it know or he wouldn't be talking right now," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, apparently referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"He's talking, and we're putting a lot of pressure. I think he wants to make a deal. We're going to find out very soon, but it takes two to tango. And you have to have Ukraine want to make a deal, too, and they're being hit very hard. And I do believe they want to make a deal," Trump added as he hosted Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

The comments came hours after Trump demanded Putin end attacks on Ukraine, issuing a sharp rebuke to the Russian leader following an hours-long drone and missile strikes on Kyiv that killed at least 12 victims and injured dozens of others.

"I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump later maintained that he was confident Putin would heed the demand.

He demurred when asked if he would consider additional sanctions on Russia if Putin does not halt the attacks.

"I'd rather answer that question in a week. I want to see if we can have a deal. No reason to answer it now, but I won't be happy. Let me put it that way, things, things will happen," he said.

Asked what concessions Putin has offered as part of peace negotiations, Trump said, "Stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country. Pretty big concession." He maintained that he did not believe Russia is the obstacle to peace, despite Moscow's hitherto refusal to sign on to a 30-day ceasefire put forward by the Trump administration and accepted by Ukraine.

"I don't think so. I think that they both want peace right now. They're ready to do something. We'll see what happens. Complicated, very complicated," he said in response to a question. "They are both very much looking to make a deal."

Trump x lashed out at Zelenskyy on Wednesday for remarks he made during a news conference this week that ruled out any possibility that Kyiv will recognize Russia's occupation of the Crimean Peninsula.

"This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion. Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" he said in a social media post.

Asked if Ukraine would have to sacrifice some of its territory to secure a peace deal with Russia, Trump said, "It depends what territory."

"They've lost a lot of territory, and we'll get we'll do the best we can, working with Ukraine, we'll do the best we can, but they lost a lot of territory," he said.