JD Vance issues fresh Zelenskyy criticism as Trump pauses US aid to Ukraine

Mr Vance stated that Mr Zelenskyy 'showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump said is the policy'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Picture: Justin Tallis/PA

US vice president JD Vance accused Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of “needling” Donald Trump and having a “certain sense of entitlement” as the US President paused aid to Ukraine.

The development comes as Mr Trump seeks to pressure Mr Zelenskyy into committing to peace talks with Russia, following their tense confrontation in the Oval Office last week.

Sitting down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity early on Tuesday, Mr Vance said the encounter, which happened in front of the media, “really set Zelenskyy off”.

“He showed a clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process that President Trump said is the policy,” he said.

“That’s the real breakdown. I think Zelenskyy wasn’t yet there. And frankly, still isn’t there. But I think he’ll get there eventually, he has to.”

Mr Vance confirmed Ukrainian officials made at least one attempt to restart negotiations after leaving the White House, but efforts were shut down by Mr Trump.

But he added the “door is open” so long as “Zelenskyy is willing to seriously talk peace”.

He also used the interview as an opportunity to criticise Europe’s approach to free speech, saying governments wanted to “silence and shut down” free speech in response to criticism over immigration.

The interview came as Mr Trump ordered a pause on aid to Ukraine.

A White House official said the US was “pausing and reviewing” aid to Ukraine to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution”, the Associated Press reported.

Mr Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal and wants Mr Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal, the official said.

Mr Trump, who has led the push for a peace deal with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said the European demand for US guarantees was showing weakness to the Kremlin.

The US president had criticised Mr Zelenskyy for suggesting a deal to end the war with Russia “is still very, very far away”.

“This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with this for much longer” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Monday.

“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 Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US – probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia.

Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, as President Donald Trump, centre, listens in the Oval Office at the White House (AP/ Mystyslav Chernov)

“What are they thinking?”

He later said European countries had “acted very well” and were “good people”.

“We’re going to make deals with everybody to get this war (finished), including Europe and European nations. And they’ve acted very well. You know, they’re good people … they want to work it out,” Mr Trump said at the White House.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Starmer again promised British troops and jets would be available to a peacekeeping force if a deal is done to end the war, along with a “coalition of the willing” from other nations.

“It is right that Europe do the heavy lifting to support peace on our continent,” he said.

“But to succeed, this effort must also have strong US backing.”

Mr Starmer said the proposed minerals deal between the US and Ukraine is “not enough” of a security guarantee on its own.

Plans for Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy to sign the minerals deal were put on hold after the Ukrainian leader left the White House early following their Oval Office bust-up.

Germany and France meanwhile have reportedly started discussions of how €200bn of frozen Russian assets could be used as a way to hold Moscow to a potential ceasefire deal.