U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” on his country’s assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as Trump seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia.

U.S. officials said the halt in military funding, an extraordinary pressure tactic, would be lifted if Ukraine’s president shows an openness to peace talks.

Withholding aid is another sign that the relationship between the Trump administration and Ukrainian leadership has deteriorated.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister François Bayrou criticizes Trump's Oval Office thrashing of Zelensky, calling it a staggering show of 'brutality.'

The move comes after Trump upended U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia upon taking office in January, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Moscow - and after an explosive con

President Donald Trump on Monday directed a “pause” to U.S. assistance to Ukraine after a disastrous Oval Office meeting as he seeks to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in peace talks with Russia.

Trump earlier on Monday slammed Zelenskyy for suggesting that the end of Russia's war against Ukraine likely "is still very, very far away."