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

Almost three years after Russia invaded its neighbor Ukraine, talks are to begin to end the bloody and destructive war that has cost tens of thousands of lives.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and European defense ministers had expressed concern that they might not be present for talks between President Trump and Russia’s leader to end the war.