Donald Trump looked tired as he arrived back in Washington after his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The US President insisted the talks "went very well" - but critics accused Trump of giving Russia's ruthless dictator exactly what he wanted.

Putin, an international pariah, was granted VIP status on US soil - with a red carpet literally rolled out for the dictator, who is wanted for war crimes in nations that recognise the International Criminal Court.

Following the talks, Trump, 79, boarded Air Force One to fly back to Washington - looking exhausted as he stepped off the plane in the US capital.

Dishevelled, with an open collar where his trademark too-long tie used to be, the elderly President eased himself down the steps onto the tarmac.

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Donald Trump is the oldest man ever to be inaugurated President of the United States.

Earlier, he'd sounded tired, giving a rambling statement at a press conference alongside Putin, saying he was keen to "get this over with."

"We really made some great progress today," Trump mumbled. "I've always had a fantastic relationship with President Putin, with Vladimir. We had many, many tough meetings, good meetings."

He then went on to complain about investigations into Russia's attempts - which they have admitted - to influence the 2016 election which saw Trump elected for the first time.

Following a call with President Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: "In my conversation with President Trump, I said that sanctions should be strengthened if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to evade an honest end to the war.

"Sanctions are an effective tool. Security must be guaranteed reliably and in the long term, with the involvement of both Europe and the U.S.

"All issues important to Ukraine must be discussed with Ukraine’s participation, and no issue, particularly territorial ones, can be decided without Ukraine."

Putin last night gave no indication he'd given up on his long-held belief that Ukraine is not a real country, and is entirely Russian territory.

At a press conference following the talks, he repeated his position that it is "sincerely interested in putting an end" to the war in Ukraine, but for that to happen, "all the root causes of the crisis ... must be eliminated."

"All of Russia's legitimate concerns must be taken into account, and a fair balance in the security sphere in Europe and the world as a whole must be restored," Putin said.