WASHINGTON —

U.S. President Donald Trump started the week declaring a diplomatic breakthrough in his bid to prod Moscow and Kyiv closer to peace, announcing he had begun arranging for direct talks between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Latest Forecast

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Four days later, the Republican president's optimism has diminished. Russia's top diplomat made it clear Friday that Putin won't meet with Zelenskyy until the Ukrainians agree to some of Moscow's longstanding demands to end the conflict.

Video above: President Trump offers 'assurance' U.S. troops will not provide ground defense in Ukraine

It's a stinging setback for Trump, who had been touting his diplomatic blitz as resulting in indisputable momentum

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