US President Donald Trump expressed optimism over prospects for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, despite also saying that nothing has changed regarding the conflict.

Axar.az reports, citing CNN, speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, where this year’s NATO summit is being held, Trump said he had a “very good talk” with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, and that he also spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

“I think they both want to make a deal. It’s too bad it took so long, but I think there’s going to be – something’s going to come out,” Trump said.

“They (Putin and Zelensky) both wanna get it settled now… I think we’re going to get it settled. Hopefully soon,” he added.

When asked if anything had changed for him to have this opinion, including if Putin was open to any concessions, the US leader said: “Never changed.”

“I just don’t want them killing people,” Trump added, noting how many people are reportedly killed in the conflict every month.

“It doesn’t affect us… It affects Europe much more. We’re there to help Europe, but it doesn’t affect the United States. We have an ocean in between. But, you know, it’s just I can’t stand watching what’s happening,” Trump said.

He told reporters that he has seen pictures of battlefields in the conflict, saying “people wouldn’t believe how violent it is.”

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s carnage and it should stop,” he said.