Trump doesn't hold Zelensky responsible for Ukraine war - says minerals deal will be signed 'next Thursday'

US President Donald Trump has said he does not hold Volodymyr Zelensky responsible for the war in Ukraine, but says he is "not a big fan of him".

"I don't hold Zelensky responsible, but I'm not thrilled with the fact that that war started," he said during a press conference at the White House, according to the Telegraph.

"And, so I'm not happy with it, and I'm not happy with anyone involved," he added.

"I'm not blaming him, but what I'm saying is that I wouldn't say he did the best job..."

He adds that "there is no way" that Vladimir Putin would have invaded Ukraine if he had been president at the time, and that now he is "trying to make him stop."

In addition, Trump said Thursday that a deal with Ukraine to extract the war-torn country's strategic minerals could be reached next week.

Kiev and Washington had been close to signing a deal until a February clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky temporarily derailed work on the deal.

"We have a deal on minerals that I think will be signed on Thursday... next Thursday. Soon. And I assume they will fulfill the deal. So we'll see. But we have a deal on that," Trump told reporters at the White House, foreign media write, according to the Telegraph.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine and the US could sign a memorandum on Thursday on the minerals agreement currently being negotiated by the two countries. /Telegraph/