"However, the Russian leader declined to endorse the proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire, which US officials had said was the main aim of the call.

Putin claimed Russia supported a halt to hostilities, but insisted it was necessary to "develop the most effective paths toward peace".

Crucially, Putin repeated his long-standing refrain that the "root causes" of the war must be addressed - a reference to Russia's maximalist demands that would undermine Ukraine's sovereignty.

;;

Vlad the Invader thought the call went really well.

#6

Your reading comprehension is in tatters, 1Squid... my post was facetious (look it up) as any non-Trumper here could have told you.

Perhaps review your ESL handbook?

""I reaffirmed to President Trump that Ukraine is ready for a full and unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy tweeted.

"If the Russians are not ready to stop the killings, there must be stronger sanctions," he wrote. "Pressure on Russia will push it toward real peace " this is obvious to everyone around the world."

However, the demands of the two sides remain far apart, with Russia saying it will only agree to a truce if Ukraine effectively surrenders. Ukraine has said these demands are unacceptable."

"I think honestly that President Putin, he doesn't quite know how to get out of the war," Vance said, adding that he had just spoken to Trump.

He said Trump may offer Putin economic incentives to accept some concessions on Ukraine in return for peace.

But the vice-president also raised the prospect of the US walking away from the talks " a scenario that will unsettle European allies and raise doubts about America's willingness to keep providing military and economic aid to Ukraine.

Vance said that it "takes two to tango. I know the president's willing to do that, but if Russia is not willing to do that, then we're eventually just going to say, this is not our war."