U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he does not hold Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "responsible" for Russia's invasion but continued to criticize the pro-Western leader, whom he has previously accused of causing "millions" of deaths.

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

Trump, who has repeatedly and falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war, responded this week to Zelensky’s invitation to visit the country with a warning to CBS, the network that aired the Ukrainian leader’s interview. In that interview, aired Sunday, Zelensky urged Trump to see the war’s devastation firsthand.

Tensions between the two leaders have simmered for months and came to a head in February, when Zelensky clashed with Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during a high-profile meeting at the White House.

Despite the friction, Trump suggested Thursday that a minerals deal with Ukraine may soon be finalized.

"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.

Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed progress in a post on X, saying Kyiv had signed a "Memorandum of Intent" with Washington for a planned "Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine." She did not provide further details.

"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 wrote.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told AFP that 26 April is the target date for the final agreement.

Meloni, speaking alongside Trump, reaffirmed Italy’s support for Ukraine.

"We've been defending freedom of Ukraine together, together we can build a just and lasting peace. We support your efforts," she said.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Meloni’s government has aligned closely with European partners in bolstering Ukraine’s defense.