Top European diplomats accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of undermining talks with Ukraine aimed at securing a halt to his war, though the US struck a more cautious tone ahead of a potential meeting in Turkey.

ISTANBUL − Russia's Vladimir Putin spurned a challenge to meet face-to-face with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey, instead sending a second-tier delegation to planned peace talks, while Ukraine's president said his defence minister would head up Kyiv's team.