Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday afternoon to discuss an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine, which began more than three years ago. The pair announced “great progress” had been made, but they still did not reach any kind of plan to end the war.

In a phone call after his all-important meeting with Russian President Putin, President Trump told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and European allies NATO-like security guarantees were discussed as part of a deal to end the war.

The US has proposed a model to end the war that would see Russia have military and economic control of occupied Ukraine under its own governing body

"What has been building up for the Ukrainians is fundamentally a manpower issue," a former senior Pentagon adviser told Newsweek.

Sources tell NBC News President Trump discussed U.S. and NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a possible permanent peace deal with Russia on his way back from his summit with Russian President Putin.

Russia hoped to overthrow Ukraine's pro-Western government, but Moscow's war has dragged on for more than three years.

As President Trump talks of land swaps, Ukrainians find it difficult to imagine giving up the Donbas, for military, humanitarian and political reasons.