US President Donald Trump has informed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders that his objectives for the meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin are to achieve a ceasefire and gain a better understanding of the possibility of concluding a comprehensive peace agreement.

Ukraine and its European backers are seeking talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to protect their security interests ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.

Hours after presenting a united front with allies, President Trump warned Vladimir V. Putin of “severe consequences” if Russia refuses to end the war in Ukraine. But he also suggested that he has limited power to alter the Russian leader’s behavior.