Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his past pledge to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours had been intended sarcastically. He told reporters the conflict is "the most complicated war" and acknowledged earlier comments had been taken literally. Trump said cease-fire negotiations have proved tougher than anticipated, describing Russian President Vladimir Putin as "more difficult than before" and "misguided." He added that Putin "wants to get out" of the war but underestimated how long it would last, and said he plans to speak with the Russian leader, without giving a date. The president also noted he "had some problems" with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, underscoring the complexity of the talks. His remarks come as NATO allies weigh further military and financial support for Kyiv amid a conflict now in its fourth year.