#TrumpCongressSpeech Trump said he had received an "important letter" from Ukraine's leader earlier in the day, which appeared to match what Volodymyr Zelensky posted publicly on social media.

Ukraine's president had said he was now ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to end the war and "come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer".

"I appreciate that he sent this letter," Trump told lawmakers.

Zelensky offered the olive branch a day after Trump paused all military aid to the beleaguered US ally.

It followed an acrimonious Oval Office meeting last week when the two leaders argued in front of TV cameras, before cancelling plans to sign a minerals deal that would allow the US to profit from an economic partnership involving Ukraine's resources.

Trump was reportedly hoping to announce during his speech to Congress that the deal had finally been sealed. But it did not materialise.🎁🎁🎁🎁🎁