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.

"I will be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally," the Ukrainian leader writes after Trump urged him to "have the meeting, now!"

KYIV — President Donald Trump on Sunday backed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for direct talks with Ukraine, breaking his administration’s agreement with European leaders announced less than 24 hours earlier.