Trump appeared to accept Putin’s demand to postpone a ceasefire until after negotiations, and there was little to indicate Russia had abandoned demands Ukraine finds unacceptable.

For President Donald Trump, Monday’s phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amounted to a major occasion — meant to ascertain his counterpart’s willingness to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end.

Trump has repeatedly pressured both Russia and Ukraine to accept a ceasefire and peace deal to end the war that has lasted over three years.