Vladimir Putin declared on Thursday that Russia was closer to reaching its goals in Ukraine and that the front line was advancing every day.

In a four-hour annual phone-in, in which the Russian president purportedly takes calls from the public and journalists, he announced he was “ready” to meet Donald Trump to discuss a possible end to the war.

The president, who appeared in good spirits, spoke as Nato and European leaders met with Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels in a push to secure a peace deal, which Mr Trump has promised to achieve when he returns to the White House.

“Warfare is complicated ... but we are getting closer to solving our primary tasks of the special operation [the Ukraine war],” Putin said.

However, he warned that Russia would need to secure a “long-lasting peace” in Ukraine as a short-term truce would “allow the enemy to resupply”.