Donald Trump has paused US military aid to Ukraine just days after his row with President Zelenskyy.

A White House official, speaking anonymously, said: “President [Trump] has been clear that he is focused on peace.

“We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is
contributing to a solution.”

There has been no comment so far from Ukraine.

It comes after the astonishing clash between the two leaders – as well as vice president Vance – in the Oval Office on Friday.

Donald Trump‘s berating of Mr Zelenskyy has led to a show of support in recent days by European leaders as they try to formulate their own way forward for peace.

The US president attacked the Ukrainian leader again on Monday, telling reporters he should be “more appreciative”.

Writing on Truth Social, he also said Mr Zelenskyy had made “the worst statement that could have been made” after he commented that peace was still “very, very far away”.

“America will not put up with it for much longer!” Mr Trump posted.

“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing,” the president added.

Mr Zelenskyy then posted on X, saying Ukraine was “working together with America and our European partners and very much hope on US support on the path to peace”.

“Peace is needed as soon as possible,” he posted.

Despite the diplomatic crisis, President Trump has said a deal is still possible.

An agreement giving the US access to mine Ukraine’s rare earth metals was meant to have been signed by the two presidents on Friday as an important step in a future peace deal.

However, the falling out has put that on hold.

Mr Zelenskyy wants guarantees over halting Russia should it try to seize more land after any peace deal is done.

European allies, who met the Ukrainian leader in London on Sunday, are working up a “coalition of the willing” to put peacekeeping troops on the ground in the event of a ceasefire to deter further Russian aggression.

The prime minister said Britain is prepared to put “boots on the ground and planes in the air” – but it’s currently unclear who else might be involved.

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Keir Starmer told MPs on Monday that Britain must “lead from the front” on supporting Ukraine and the “security of our continent, the security of our country”.

However, the prime minister believes the US should provide a “backstop” to any coalition of troops.

America has given around €64bn of military aid to Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022, compared with €62bn from European nations (including the UK).

Following the weekend’s summit, the UK also pledged £1.6bn in finance to Ukraine to buy another 5,000 air defence missiles – which will be made in Belfast.