Russia has called for direct negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, but Ukraine’s European allies maintain Putin needs to be pressured into a ceasefire first.

For about 30 hours, the illusion of transatlantic unity over Ukraine was maintained. But US President Donald Trump’s response to a proposal from Russia’s Vladimir Putin shattered that.

Russia is "completely ignoring" a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and European powers that was to have begun on Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.