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Washington is intensifying efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, with President Trump reportedly pressing Vladimir Putin in a 'confidential' call for a swift resolution, framing peace as a path to quickly restoring US-Russian trade ties. Separately, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other US officials have been engaged in parallel diplomatic outreach aimed at bringing both sides to the table. Trump has since said publicly that Ukraine-Russia negotiations are dragging on because Putin and Zelenskyy 'hate each other,' while reiterating his belief that Putin wants a deal to end the war. The comment underscores the personal animosity Trump sees as a key obstacle to progress, even as his administration continues pushing for a swift settlement.