UNITED STATES President Donald Trump claimed on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “isn’t ready” to sign off on a US-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Mr Trump was critical of Mr Zelensky after US and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the US administration’s proposal.

But in an exchange with reporters on Sunday night, Mr Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of holding up the talks from moving forward.

“I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago.

“His people love it, but he hasn’t,” Mr Trump claimed in an exchange with reporters before taking part in the Kennedy Centre Honours.

The president added: “Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelensky’s fine with it. His people love it. But he isn’t ready.”

Mr Trump has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Mr Zelensky since returning to the White House, insisting that the war was a waste of US taxpayers’ money.

The US leader has also repeatedly urged the Ukrainians to cede land to Russia to bring an end to a now nearly four-year conflict he says has cost far too many lives.

Mr Zelensky said on Saturday he had been given an update over the phone by US and Ukrainian officials at the talks.

Writing on social media, he said: “Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace.”

Mr Trump’s criticism of his Ukrainian counterpart came as Russia on Sunday welcomed the Trump administration’s new national security strategy in comments by the Kremlin spokesman published by Russia’s Tass news agency.

Dmitry Peskov said the updated strategic document was largely in line with Moscow’s vision.

He said: “There are statements there against confrontation and in favour of dialogue and building good relations.”