Trump changes tune on who triggered Putin to invade Ukraine – Firstpost

US President Donald Trump seemed to have backtracked from his claim that Volodymyr Zelenskyy started the war, saying that he does not hold the Ukrainian president “responsible” for Russia’s invasion of his country, adding that a mineral deal is coming “soon”.

“I don’t hold Zelensky responsible but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,” Trump said at the White House alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job, OK? I am not a big fan,” he added.

Trump has been repeatedly blaming Zelenskyy for starting the war and has accused the Ukrainian president of responsibility for “millions” of deaths. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, has invited the US president to visit Ukraine and witness the destruction caused by the war for himself.

‘Minerals deal soon’

Potus added Thursday that a deal with Ukraine on extracting the war-wracked country’s strategic minerals could be reached next week.

Kyiv and Washington had been close to signing a deal until the February clash between Trump and Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the agreement.

“We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday… next Thursday. Soon. And I assume they’re going to live up to the deal. So we’ll see. But we have a deal on that,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, Kyiv’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a post on X that Ukraine has signed a “Memorandum of Intent” with Washington on a planned “Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.”

“There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries,” she added.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told AFP that a deal is targeted for April 26.

With inputs from agencies