WASHINGTON, March 4. /TASS/. The United States and Ukraine may sign the minerals deal within hours, Reuters said, citing sources.

According to the sources, US President Donald Trump may announce the deal during his address to Congress due to begin at 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 a.m. GMT on Wednesday).

On Tuesday, Zelensky expressed regret over the incident that happened during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on February 28, but again did not present apologies. Ukraine would like further cooperation and communication to be constructive, he stressed, adding that Kievis ready sign the agreement on minerals and security at any time and in any convenient format.

On February 28, Zelensky arrived at the White House for a meeting with Trump. During their conversation, which took place in the presence of journalists, a heated exchange erupted. Trump criticized Zelensky for his perceived disrespect toward the United States, while Vice President JD Vance pointed out that Zelensky had neglected to thank Washington for its support of Kiev. Consequently, the press conference following their meeting was canceled, and the signing of a mineral agreement between Ukraine and the United States did not occur. Notably, Zelensky did not offer any apology for his actions or remarks.

On March 2, the Bloomberg news agency reported a source within the EU leadership stating that the U.S. presidential administration had privately communicated to its European partners a desire for a public apology from Zelensky for his behavior during the White House visit.

On March 3, Reuters quoted a White House spokesperson confirming that Trump had ordered the suspension of all military aid deliveries to Kiev. A Pentagon spokesperson subsequently corroborated this information to TASS.