French President Emmanuel Macron believes the US is open to ramping up sanctions against Russia after he urged Donald Trump last week to get tougher with Vladimir Putin, he said in a Paris Match interview released on Monday.

President Trump fired off rare public criticism of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and sat for a dramatic one-on-one talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Vatican over the weekend,

The US, Ukraine, and Russia are increasingly discussing possible ways to end the war. US President Donald Trump has his own peace plan, while the Kremlin is issuing ultimatums, and Kyiv insists on its fundamental positions.