President Donald Trump said on Thursday that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia "fight for a while" before separating them and seeking peace.

In a meeting in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump compared the war in Ukraine —which Russia invaded in early 2022— to a fight between two little kids who hate each other.

"Sometimes it's better to let them fight for a while and then separate them," Trump said. He added that he conveyed that analogy to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his phone conversation on Wednesday.

Trump still left the threat of sanctions on the table. He said sanctions could be imposed on both Ukraine and Russia.

"When I see the moment that this doesn't stop ... we will be very, very tough," Trump expressed.