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KIEV -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday expressed his hope that an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska could pave the way for three-way talks.

"The key thing is that this meeting should open up a real path toward a just peace and a substantive discussion between leaders in a trilateral format -- Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian side," Zelensky wrote on X.

He stressed that "it is time to end the war," while underscoring that Russia must take "necessary steps."

"We are counting on America. We are ready, as always, to work as productively as possible," Zelensky added.

The meeting between Trump and Putin is scheduled for Friday in the city of Anchorage.