Initially cut out of development of the 28-point peace plan, European leaders are now trying to recast its pro-Russian slant. So far, it seems to be working.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is in Abu Dhabi to meet with Russian officials, two U.S. officials and two diplomatic sources who were not authorized to speak publicly told CBS News.

As for Mr Trump, he again betrayed his underlying bias: sympathy for Russia and indifference to Ukraine. Ahead of the Geneva talks he dismissively said Mr Zelensky “can continue to fight his little heart out” if no agreement were reached, and complained on social media that “UKRAINE ‘LEADERSHIP’ HAS EXPRESSED ZERO GRATITUDE FOR OUR EFFORTS.”

The two leaders discussed trade, Ukraine and Taiwan in their first phone call since meeting in South Korea last month.

American President Donald Trump spoke with China's President Xi Jinping on Monday, describing it afterwards as "a very good telephone call"