Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Donald Trump at White House, discusses minerals deal

The meeting comes amid escalated tensions after President Trump called Zelenskyy a "dictator" and blamed him for starting the war with Russia.

However, the US President took back his words a day before the meeting and commended him for his bravery.

As the talks began, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy reportedly urged Donald Trump that during peace talks "there should be no compromises with a killer on our territory", in an apparent reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, President Trump made it clear that "Ukraine will have to make compromises in a truce with Russia", said reports.

Before the commencement of the meeting, Zelenskyy told the media that, "I think President Trump is on our side."

The agenda of Friday's meeting primarily focuses on a minerals deal for the United States in return for the US's assurance of providing Kyiv with the security it needs against Russia.

The deal is important as it forms the foundation of future talks on finding a peace deal for the war in Ukraine, which has been continuing for more than three years now.