KYIV, Ukraine — Undercutting a weekend of European diplomacy, President Donald Trump implored Ukraine on Sunday to accept a Russian proposal for direct talks rather than insist on a ceasefire first — as had been laid out in a plan announced a day earlier by European leaders during a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

The leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland had set a deadline today for Russia to accept a 30-day ceasefire — one initially proposed by the Trump administration — or face additional sanctions.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin made a counteroffer of direct talks, without mentioning a ceasefire, France and Germany rebuffed the proposal.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded cautiously to the Russian counteroffer of direct talks, insisting again on a halt in the fighting. After Trump’s post, Zelenskyy added a new twist to the diplomatic brinkmanship, saying he would personally attend negotiations. Putin, in suggesting direct talks, had not proposed a presidential meeting.

— The New York Times