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.

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.

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.