Mr. Trump backed off his demand that Russia declare an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, instead endorsing Mr. Putin’s call for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Mr. Putin made it clear ...

Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, President Donald Trump said Monday after separate calls with the leaders of both countries meant to spur progress toward ending the three-year war.

Russian negotiators at peace talks in Istanbul demanded Ukraine pull its troops out of all the Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow before they would agree to a ceasefire, a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks told Reuters.