Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after Zelensky clash

US President Donald Trump has ordered a pause on all US military aid to Ukraine, just days after his heated showdown with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

US President Donald Trump has ordered a pause on all US military aid to Ukraine, just days after his White House clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The pause will remain in effect until Ukrainian officials demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace negotiations, a White House official told The New York Post.

“The President has been clear that he is focused on peace,” the official said. “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.”

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their heated Oval Office clash. Picture: Getty Images

Mr Trump earlier lashed out at Mr Zelensky, claiming the Ukrainian President does not want peace with Russia and warning America “will not put up with it for much longer”.

Mr Trump shared a news article headline that read, “Ukraine’s Zelensky says end of war with Russia is ‘very, very far away’.

He wrote alongside it: “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelensky, and America will not put up with it for much longer!

“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelensky, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the U.S. – Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”

The clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shocked the world. Picture: AFP

Hours later while announcing a $US100bn investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co in the US, Mr Trump insisted he wanted the Ukraine Russia war to end swiftly.

“It takes two to tango and you’re going to have to make a deal with Russia and you’re going to have to make a deal with Ukraine,” he said.

“You’re going to have to have the assent and you’re going to have to have the consent from the European nations, because I think that’s important, and from us.

“I think everybody has to get into a room and make a deal, and the deal can be made very fast, it should not be that hard a deal to make, it can be made very fast.”

US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, and end up arguing. Picture: AFP

Mr Trump alluded to his earlier claim that Mr Zelensky did not want peace.

“Now maybe someone doesn’t want to make a deal and if someone doesn’t make a deal I think that person won’t be around very long, I think that person won’t be listened to very long,” he said.

“Because I believe that Russia wants to make a deal, I believe certainly the people of Ukraine want to make a deal, they’ve suffered more than anyone else…”.

Asked about speculation he was considering cancelling military aid to Ukraine, Mr Trump said “we haven’t even talked about that right now”.

Mr Trump said he wanted to see the war end quickly and for young people to stop being killed, commenting “he better not be right about that that’s all I’m saying” in reference to Mr Zelensky’s prediction the war was far from over.

Before the press conference, Mr Zelensky took to X to say he wanted peace “as soon as possible”.

“It is very important that we try to make our diplomacy really substantive to end this war the soonest possible,” he said.

“We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns. We lose our people. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.

“We are working together with America and our European partners and very much hope on US support on the path to peace.”

(L-R) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron hold a meeting during a summit at Lancaster House. Picture: Getty Images

His post was shared by presidential adviser Elon Musk who added “Zelensky wants a forever war, a never-ending graft meat grinder. This is evil.”

Mr Trump followed up with another post minutes later criticising European leaders.

“Europe has spent more money buying Russian Oil and Gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine —BY FAR!,” he wrote.

It comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared that he will “not choose between sides of Atlantic” and ensuring American support is vital in “securing the peace we all want to see in Ukraine”.

Sir Keir’s address to the UK’s House of Commons on Monday afternoon (Tuesday AEDT) comes just one day after he announced four clear principles to enable European leaders to work together to achieve peace and security in Ukraine and put an end to the ongoing war with Russia.

“I want to be crystal clear, we must strengthen our relationship with America, for our security, for our technology, for our trade and investment,” he told the parliament.

“They are and always will be indispensable and we will never choose between either side of the Atlantic.

“The past week has shown that with total clarity that the US is vital in securing the peace the peace that we all want to see”.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference at a summit at Lancaster House, England. Picture: Getty Images

The four steps including ensuring military aid flowing continues for Ukraine and increasing the economic pressure on Russia, peace must result in Ukraine’s sovereignty and security and it must also boost Ukraine’s defence capabilities and the nation must at the negotiating table when negotiating their future.

Another key step is to create a “coalition of the willing” to allow countries to join together to help defend Ukraine.

Sir Keir reiterated his comments made on the weekend of the chaotic meeting Mr Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance held with Mr Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office on Friday and said it’s something “nobody wants to see”.

Sir Keir told the Commons: “The plan is clear, we’re working with the French, we’ve had extensive discussions with the United States in relation to that plan.

“So as soon as the details are available, I’ll share them with the house, but they are still being worked on at the moment.

“There’s no guarantee of success but we’ve done everything we can to ensure peace in Europe and peace in Ukraine”.

Sir Keir’s latest comments on Monday come after reports Mr Trump is considering cancelling military aid to Ukraine during a discussion with key government figureheads.

Sir Keir was openly scathing about Russian President Vladimir Putin who he described as a “man that does not keep his word” and “does feast on division”.

“Russia is a menace in our water and skies,” Sir Keir said.

“They have launched cyber attacks.

“We stand by Ukraine because it’s the right thing to do”.

He said if peace is not achieved, “Putin’s appetite for conflict and chaos, that will only grow”.