President Donald Trump says he is hopeful that Russia's war in Ukraine is nearing an endgame as he met with French President Emmanuel Macron on the third anniversary of the invasion.

Trump, in broad-ranging comments on the state of the conflict, said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine to keep the peace.

He also expressed hope that the conflict could end within weeks and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would soon come to the US to sign a deal to give America access to Ukraine's critical minerals to help repay some of the $180 billion in aid that's been sent to Kyiv since the start of the war.

Trump, Macron hold a press conference at the White House. – AP

“It looks like we’re getting very close,” Trump told reporters at the start of his bilateral meeting with Macron.

He added that Zelensky could potentially visit Washington this week or next to sign the deal.

Trump said he believed it was to the "benefit of Russia to make a deal" on ending the war in Ukraine.

"There's tremendous distrust on both sides," Trump said. "That's why it's good that I'm coming in now."

During a day of talks between the two leaders, Trump and Macron showed a friendly rapport based on years of good ties. But Macron made clear he disagreed with Trump on some key issues as they marked three years since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Trump and Macron sketched out efforts to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war in Oval Office talks after they took part in a video conference with other G7 leaders to mark the third anniversary of the start of the Ukraine war.

Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron hold a press conference at the White House. – AP

Trump refused to refer to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a dictator, after calling Zelensky a dictator last week. Macron said it was clear that Russia "is the aggressor" in the conflict, a topic Trump wavered on last week.

"President Putin violated the peace," Macron said at a joint press conference with Trump.

Trump expressed a desire for a ceasefire as soon as possible and said he was trying to arrange one between Ukraine and Russia. He said he could go to Moscow to meet Putin once a deal is reached.

During a joint news conference, Macron was asked what advice he would give Trump, being one of the last Western leaders to talk to Putin before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"Now this is a chance, there is a a big change because there is a new US administration," Macron said. "So there is good reason for President Trump to re-engage with President Putin."

“I always think it’s good to have discussion with other leaders and especially when you disagree,” he added.

Macron underscored the importance of security guarantees in future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, saying he wanted to get something that can be "assessed, checked and verified".

He said of the Trump administration’s discussions with Russia over ending fighting in Ukraine: “I think it’s good to have discussion.”

Macron corrects Trump after he says EU getting their money back from Ukraine. – Reuters

A French official with knowledge of Macron’s meeting with Trump said the US president didn’t object to the need for US security guarantees in a possible peace deal but details were still being worked out. The official wasn’t authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

At a joint press conference, Macron acknowledged that European nations must do more to bolster defence on the continent. But he also warned against capitulating to Russia.

"This peace must not mean a surrender of Ukraine," Macron said. "It must not mean a ceasefire without guarantees. This peace must allow for Ukrainian sovereignty.”

In an interview with Fox News, Macron says Ukraine-Russia truce could happen in weeks to come. – Reuters

Macron, the first European leader to visit Trump since he regained power a month ago, said Europe has a role to play in providing security guarantees.

He said first a truce needs to be negotiated and then a peace agreement backed up by security guarantees.

"We want peace, he wants peace. We want peace swiftly, but we don't want an agreement that is weak," Macron told reporters.

Trump said he believed that Putin wants to make a deal.

"I really believe that he wants to make a deal, maybe wrong, but I believe he wants to make a deal."

MOMENT: Macron is a 'smart customer', Trump says. – Reuters

The two leaders did agree, however, on the deployment of European peacekeeping forces once a peace deal is eventually reached.

"They would not be along the front lines. They would not be part of any conflict. They would be there to ensure that the peace is respected," Macron said earlier in the Oval Office with Trump.

Trump said he accepts the concept, as does Putin.

"Yeah, he will accept that," Trump said about Putin's position on a peacekeeping force. "I specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it."

Macron called his discussions with Trump "a turning point" in the drive for a more unified approach.

Macron is trying to capitalise on a relationship with Trump built during their first presidential terms. 

At one point during their Oval Office meeting, Macron touched Trump's arm and carefully corrected the US president's claim that Europe had delivered all of its aid as loans.

MOMENT: A long handshake as Macron arrives for talks with Trump at the White House. – Reuters

Trump said the United States is "very close" to a minerals deal with Ukraine and that he might meet Zelensky later this week or next week to seal the agreement.

"He may come in this week or next week to sign the agreement, which would be nice," Trump said of Zelensky.

Trump and his team have been negotiating a minerals revenue-sharing agreement with Ukraine to recoup some of the money that the previous Biden administration had sent to Kyiv in the form of weapons to repel Russia.

Zelensky last week rejected US demands for $500 billion in mineral wealth from Ukraine to repay Washington for wartime aid, saying the United States had supplied nowhere near that sum so far and offered no specific security guarantees in the agreement.

Trump, asked if it was possible that Ukraine might have to cede some territory to Russia, said, "Well, we're going to see". Macron said any deal should include sovereignty for Ukraine.

Eiffel Tower lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag to mark anniversary of Russia's invasion. – AP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also is to visit Trump later in the week, amid alarm in Europe over Trump's hardening stance toward Ukraine and overtures to Moscow on the conflict.

Macron and Starmer are trying to convince Trump not to rush to a ceasefire deal with Putin at any cost, to keep Europe involved and discuss military guarantees to Ukraine.

Macron has said agreeing to a bad deal would amount to a capitulation of Ukraine and would signal weakness to the United States' foes, including China and Iran.