President Trump on Wednesday would not say whether he considers Ukraine to be an “equal member” of efforts to end the war between Moscow and Kyiv, as his administration pushes for negotiations

Trump said on Wednesday he had held a "highly productive phone call" with Putin and they had agreed to start negotiations immediately.

Asked whether Ukraine would be part of the negotiations, the president said on Thursday, “Of course they would.” A day earlier, he had suggested otherwise, and appeared ready to make concessions that Ukraine has flatly rejected.