President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a long-sought minerals deal that will closely tie the two countries together for years to come.

“I hear that he’s coming on Friday,” Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office Tuesday afternoon, speaking with nonchalance after several days of pressuring Zelenskyy. “Certainly, it’s okay with me if he’d like to. He would like to sign it together with me.” “It’s a very big deal,” he added.

WASHINGTON -- Trump says Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday to sign a critical minerals deal.