I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, stop!" Trump said.

President Trump also sought to divert blame should negotiations fall apart, a sign that he is perhaps more pessimistic about a deal than he was when he took office in January.

Some US allies are highly alarmed by the framework the Trump administration is pushing to end the Ukraine war and Europeans are bracing for the outcomes of another round of high-level talks between the US and Russia,