Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reached out to former US President Donald Trump, expressing his willingness to mend relations and work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to secure lasting peace in Ukraine.

In his first public remarks following Trump’s suspension of US military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky described their recent dispute as “regrettable” and reaffirmed his commitment to signing a key minerals deal with Washington. He also called for an immediate “true” in the sea and air as a preliminary step towards ending the ongoing three-year conflict.

The rift between Kyiv and Washington has been publicly evident following a heated exchange in the Oval Office last week, culminating in the US decision to halt critical military support for Ukraine.

“My team and I are ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to achieve lasting peace,” Zelensky stated on X.

“Our meeting in Washington last Friday did not go as planned. It is time to make amends,” he added.

Trump’s unexpected decision on Monday to cut aid to Ukraine has heightened concerns in Kyiv and across Europe, raising fears that the US is shifting its strategic alliances away from Ukraine and towards Russia.

The Kremlin welcomed the decision, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing it as a “solution that could genuinely push the Kyiv regime towards a peace process.”

The European Union, excluded from ongoing US-Russia negotiations, has scrambled to reinforce its support for Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a plan on Tuesday to mobilise €800 billion (£680 billion) for European defence, pledging immediate military assistance to Kyiv.

An emergency EU summit scheduled for Thursday aims to consolidate European backing for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians have reacted with shock and frustration, perceiving Trump’s actions as a betrayal. “It feels like a stab in the back,” said Sofia, a 33-year-old financial assistant in Kyiv.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted that the US decision was made without consulting NATO allies, with disruptions already evident at Poland’s weapons and aid logistics hub for Ukraine.

In France, Prime Minister François Bayrou informed lawmakers that entire trainloads of US military supplies destined for Ukraine were being halted.

According to The New York Times, the US aid suspension affects hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of weaponry already in transit to Ukraine.