Trump praises letter from Ukraine's Zelenskyy backing talks 'to bring lasting peace closer'

Donald Trump has said he appreciated Volodymyr Zelenskyy's willingness to sign a minerals deal with the United States and come to the negotiating table to bring a lasting peace in Ukraine closer. "Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine," the US president said in a speech to Congress following last week's disastrous meeting at the White House. Quoting from the letter, Trump said Zelenskyy told him that "Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians." "My team and…