Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has raised hopes of a “freeze” in the Ukraine war.
He voiced the optimism as preparations were underway for a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in the conflict.
The talks, which come after Trump shortened a deadline for Russia to act with the threat of more sanctions, could be followed by a three-way meeting involved the US president, Russian leader and Volodymyr Zelensky.
After speaking to the Ukrainian president, Mr Tusk said: "There are certain signals, and we also have an intuition, that perhaps a freeze in the conflict - I don't want to say the end, but a freeze in the conflict - is closer than it is further away," he told a news conference
"There are hopes for this."
He added that Mr Zelensky was "very cautious but optimistic" and that Ukraine was keen that Poland and other European countries play a role in planning for a ceasefire and an eventual peace settlement.
Former British Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace has said that either Britain or France, as Europe’s two nuclear powers, should be at the table for the meeting between Trump and Putin, with Mr Zelensky, to try to stop them “bullying” Ukraine into accepting a bad deal to end the war.
NATO member Poland has been a staunch supporter of its eastern neighbour Ukraine since Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into the country in February 2022, citing threats to Russian security and plunging Moscow's relations with the West into deep crisis.
Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia is engaged in a imperial-style land grab.
In a post on X, Mr Zelensky said he had spoken with Tusk about "the available diplomatic options and agreed to coordinate and work together for our common European interests".
He had also informed the Polish Prime Minister about his conversations with Trump and other European leaders earlier this week.
"Ukraine, Poland, and other European nations alike need strong foundations for their security and independence," Mr Zelensky said.
"A reliable peace is essential for all, and I am grateful for the readiness (of allies) to help along this path."
Trump claimed during his re-election campaign that he could end the Ukraine war within a day.
After coming to office in January for a second term, he appeared to side with Putin as he sought to rebuild ties between America and Russia.
He had an extraordinary bust-up in the Oval Office with Mr Zelensky and even blamed him for the Russian invasion.
Britain has long been warning that Putin was not serious about moves to end the war and Trump has grown increasingly exasperated with the Russian president.
Putin has dragged his feet over peace moves as Russian troops have been gradually seizing more territory in eastern Ukraine, while suffering heavy losses.
The Russian president has riled Trump by seeming to agree to take steps towards a ceasefire but then only to launch huge drone and missile attacks on Ukraine including the capital Kyiv.
Ukraine has also launched waves of drone strikes, including attacking oil depots and Russian air bases.
