U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 28. Reuters-Yonhap

The United States is close to signing a deal with Ukraine for access to its raw earth minerals, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday.

"We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine," Trump said at the White House.

The U.S. was signing agreements "in various locations to unlock rare earths and minerals and lots of other things all over the world," Trump added.

The raw earth deal, which has been under negotiation for weeks, was seen by Kiev as a strategic partnership that could ensure continued U.S. support against the Russian invasion.

Trump, who returned to the White House in January, has linked U.S. aid to Ukraine with access to its rare earth reserves. The deposits are considered to be economically lucrative and strategically important.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump were expected to sign the deal in late February.

However, a heated exchange between the pair in the Oval Office led to the talks being called off and Zelensky's early departure. (DPA)