In an abrupt break from his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, Trump's administration has cast the war as a deadly proxy conflict between Russia and the United States, withdrawn support for Ukraine joining NATO and floated the idea of recognising Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump during a phone call that Moscow will not give up its goals in Ukraine as any remaining hope for a cease-fire in the more than 40-month war crumbles.

President Trump said on Thursday that a phone call with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had not resulted in any movement toward ending the war in Ukraine, adding that he was “not happy” with the conflict grinding on. “I didn’t make any progress with him at all,” Mr. Trump told reporters.