President Trump said the tone and spirit of his two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about the war in Ukraine were "excellent," and Russia and Ukraine would "immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire.

That favours Russia. As his forces grind forward, Mr Putin insists that an agreement must be reached on the terms of a peace settlement before the guns fall silent. Ukraine, backed by European leaders, wants an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, followed by talks on a permanent settlement.

President Donald Trump said on Monday that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will “begin immediately” after an “excellent” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moscow’s proposal for peace talks backfired as Ukraine’s European allies persuaded Zelensky to accept U.S. cease-fire plan.

Trump's top negotiator predicted the president's call with Putin on Monday "will go a long way towards identifying where we are and how we complete this negotiation."