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.

U.S. President Donald Trump offered on Monday to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks in Turkey later this week as European countries pushed to get the Kremlin to accept their demand for a 30-day ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky asked President Trump to join potential peace talks in Turkey this week as the Ukrainian president continues his campaign to ratchet up pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a cease-fire.