Donald Trump has paused US military aid to Ukraine just days after his row with President Zelenskyy.
A White House official said the country was pausing and reviewing aid “to ensure that it [Ukraine] is contributing to a solution”.
It’s not believed to be a permanent end of US assistance.
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.
Writing on Truth Social, he said Mr Zelenskyy had made “the worst statement that could have been made” after he commented that an end to the war was still “very, very far away”.
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“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.
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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 told reporters a deal for peace 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.
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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.
Britain and France are leading the plan, but it’s unclear who exactly would be involved.
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The prime minister 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, Sir Keir Starmer believes the US should provide a “backstop” to any coalition of troops.
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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).
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