U.S. President Donald Trump said he appreciated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s willingness to sign a minerals deal with the US and come to the negotiating table under his leadership to bring a lasting peace closer in Kyiv’s war with Russia, writes Reuters.

Trump said in an address to the U.S. Congress that Zelenskiy made the declaration in a letter to him earlier in the day.

Zelenskiy posted on X earlier that Ukraine was ready to sign the deal and talk peace and called a contentious Oval Office meeting last week after which it was put on hold “regrettable”.

The Trump administration and Ukraine plan to sign the minerals deal, four people familiar with the situation told Reuters earlier on Tuesday. Trump had told his advisers that he wanted to announce an agreement in his address to Congress, three of the sources said, cautioning that the deal had yet to be signed and the situation could change.

Trump’s remarks suggested that progress had been made.

“Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskiy of Ukraine. The letter reads, "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer”, Trump said.

He said Zelenskiy had said he stood ready to work “under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts” and that he valued how much America had done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence.

“Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it at any time that is convenient for you”, Trump quoted Zelenskiy as saying.

“I appreciate that he sent this letter”, Trump said, adding that “Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace”.

Trump has said the agreement will help secure a peace deal by giving the US a financial stake in Ukraine’s future. He views it as America’s way of earning back some of the tens of billions of dollars it has given to Ukraine in financial and military aid since Russia invaded 3 years ago.