The two leaders are due to discuss the war in Ukraine and a deal that would give the US access to its deposits of rare earth minerals.

Things change fast in Donald Trump’s world. A few days ago, the US president falsely branded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” who started Russia’s war in Ukraine and had “no cards” to play. But on Friday the Ukrainian war hero will get a full White House welcome.

Donald Trump branded Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. On Friday he will host the Ukrainian president at the White House and sign a deal granting Washington access to Ukraine's rare minerals.The extraordinary turnaround caps a week of frantic international diplomacy centered on Washington,