KYIV — President Donald Trump on Sunday backed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for direct talks with Ukraine, breaking his administration’s agreement with European leaders announced less than 24 hours earlier.

US President Donald Trump said Ukraine should “immediately” agree to Vladimir Putin’s offer to hold “direct” peace talks in Turkey this week, seeming to shatter a European effort to force the Russian president to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine by Monday.

Putin invited Kyiv to take part in "serious negotiations" aimed at "moving towards a lasting, strong peace" while speaking from the Kremlin on Sunday. He did not respond to the urge from the U.K. and European leaders to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine starting on Monday.