India, Feb. 23 -- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Saturday said that US President Donald Trump is confident of striking a peace deal with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, saying that such an agreement could be reached as soon as this coming week.

Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn, Leavitt said, "Right now, the president and his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict. The president is very confident that we can get it done this week."

The remark comes just a day after Donald Trump suggested that it is not essential for Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be a part of the negotiations that are aimed to end the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.

"I d...