US President Donald Trump pressured Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give up the eastern Donbas region in exchange for peace during "tense" talks last Friday in Washington, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.

The source added that the talks with Trump were "not easy", and that diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war felt like they were being "dragged out" and "going in circles."

Zelenskyy met Trump at the White House last week, hoping to capitalise on the US leader's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin's reluctance to accept a ceasefire.

But he instead left empty-handed after Trump – who spoke with Putin the day before – denied his request for long-range Tomahawk missiles and pressured him into making a deal.

Trump hails 'interesting, cordial' talks

When asked if Trump urged Zelenskyy to pull out of land Ukraine still controlled – one of Russia's key demands – the Ukrainian official told AFP: "Yes, that's true."

Following his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump said on social media that their talks were "very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a deal."

Trump promised to end the three-and-a-half-year Russia-Ukraine war within "24 hours" of his inauguration in January, but has failed to extract any concessions from Putin.

His position on the war has repeatedly shifted following his conversations with both Putin and Zelenskyy.