U. S. President Donald Trump said it was too early to approach Russian leader Vladimir Putin with a proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.

When asked whether he intended to call again on the Kremlin to halt hostilities, Trump replied that «now is not the time." He added that if such a step became necessary, it would be taken «harshly» and without concessions.

The American president also remarked that Putin had «let him down." Trump insisted that Washington’s allies should stop buying Russian oil if they expected the United States to maintain pressure on Moscow. In his view, lower energy prices could force Russia to consider negotiations.

Earlier this week, Trump said that the question of a possible meeting between Putin and Vladimir Zelensky would be settled «relatively soon.»