By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin hold talks in Alaska on Friday, with the U.S. president’s hopes of sealing a ceasefire agreement on Ukraine uncertain but with a last gasp offer from Putin of a possible nuclear deal that could help both men save face.

The meeting of the Russian and U.S. leaders at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska, their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House, comes amid Ukrainian and European fears that Trump might sell Kyiv out.

Trump, who once said he would end Russia’s war in Ukraine within 24 hours, said on Thursday the three-and-a-half-year conflict had proven a tougher nut to crack than he had thought.

He said if his talks with Putin went well, setting up a subsequent three-way summit with Ukraini

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