Three times in in 100 days Donald Trump tried to end the war in Ukraine - and failed

Before re-entered the White House, he boasted that he would be able to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of being in office. One hundred days later, and the three-year-long conflict continues to destroy lives, buildings and infrastructure.

Mr Trump has wavered between blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for prolonging the war. The US President has also claimed a peace deal is very close, even as bombs continued to fall. At election rallies last summer, Mr Trump promised peace between Russia and Ukraine merely by winning the election. He told a National Guard Association conference in Detroit in August: "Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled." On his boast about ending the war in a day, he told Time magazine this month that it was "an exaggeration" he had made "in jest". He told the publication: "Obviously, people know that when I said that, it was said in jest, but it was also said that it will be ended."

Over the past 100 days in office, the US President's administration has made three major attempts to bring the war to an end - without success.

Breaking from the precedent set by his predecessor Mr Trump decided to speak directly to Putin in February and March.

Aiming at the time to secure a 30-day interim ceasefire, Mr Trump could only obtain a promise Russia would stop attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure, an agreement that came into force on March 25. Within hours of Putin's promise, Kyiv accused Moscow of breaking the commitment.

This came a few days after talks in Jeddah between diplomats from Washington and Kyiv, during which an agreement had been reached for a complete 30-day ceasefire. Putin, however, frustrated Washington's desire to achieve peace by rejecting the demand that any ceasefire should cover the frontline in the east of Ukraine.

A final deal put forward by the US at talks in Paris earlier this month includes a permanent ceasefire and "robust" security guarantee which would not be backed by US boots on the ground in Ukraine.

It also includes denying Ukraine NATO membership, but allowing Kyiv to pursue joining the European Union. Washington would also recognise Russian control of Crimea, a Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

In addition, the US would recognise Moscow's control of Luhansk as well as parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson.

Sanctions on Russia imposed since 2014 would be lifted, with the US free to strike economic deals with the Russians and Ukrainians.

Mr Trump's land-for-peace plan would mark a significant shift in the post-World War 2 order as it tears up conventions which insist borders should not be redrawn by force.

Kyiv has ruled out relinquishing its sovereign territory both politically and constitutionally. It would require changing Ukraine's constitution to allow such an eventuality and prove deeply unpopular after Ukrainians suffered years of bloodshed.

Mr Zelensky refused to agree to a peace deal which didn't include US security guarantees to deter Russia in future. Washington argued a US-Ukraine minerals deal would mean the presence of US workers in Ukraine would be a sufficient deterrent. Ukraine's leader gave up hopes of US guarantees, but the signing of the minerals deal has yet to materialise.

Meanwhile, on Monday Putin appeared to snub the US by unilaterally declaring a 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War 2.

The Kremlin said the truce, ordered on "humanitarian grounds", will run from May 8 to May 10 to mark Moscow's defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Ukraine previously agreed to Mr Trump's proposal of a full 30-day ceasefire, but Kyiv dismissed Putin's move as window dressing.

Putin had announced a unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire, which Ukraine voiced its readiness to honour, but it said Russian attacks continued. Moscow accused Ukraine of failing to halt its attacks.

Russia's ceasefire offer came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that this week would be "very critical".

He told NBC the US needed to "make a determination about whether this is an endeavour" it wants "to continue to be involved in".

For his part, Mr Trump expressed doubts about Putin's sincerity in pursuing a deal after Russian forces pounded towns and cities in Ukraine with cruise and ballistic missiles even as talks continued.

His doubt came after claiming on Friday that a brokered settlement to the war was "close".