Lord Mandelson’s calls for Volodymyr Zelensky to make up with Donald Trump and support his peace plan are “not government policy”, a minister has insisted.

Britain’s ambassador to the US said in an interview over the weekend that the Ukrainian leader should give his “unconditional backing” to US proposals to end the three-year conflict.

But Luke Pollard, the Armed Forces minister, distanced Downing Street from the suggestion and insisted that position was not the view of Sir Keir Starmer’s administration.

The comments follow a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky on Friday that descended into acrimony as the US president accused his counterpart of risking World War Three.

He subsequently ejected Mr Zelensky’s delegation from the White House, going on to claim the Ukrainian president was not yet ready for peace.

Nigel Farage, the Reform leader, said Mr Zelensky had “no choice” but to go back to the White House and suggested he should wear a tie next time.