Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Mr Putin of “Russian manipulation” claiming that he is purposefully postponing the prospect of a ceasefire without outright rejecting it in order to “kill more Ukrainians”.

U.S. officials were in Moscow for talks, and the Russian leader said he was open to a cease-fire, but President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine expressed skepticism.

President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin both claimed that Ukrainian forces were surrounded. Ukraine’s top military commander vowed to “hold the line.”