U.S. and Ukrainian officials held talks throughout the night until Friday morning, trying to reach an agreement on mineral extraction and halt the deterioration of relations. This was reported to Axios by a U.S. official and a source directly familiar with the matter.
As noted, disagreements over mineral resources helped trigger a broader crisis in relations this week. Now, officials in the Trump administration and some in the Ukrainian government are pressuring President Volodymyr Zelensky to finalize the deal.
A U.S. official and a source familiar with the situation said the decision now rests with Zelensky, and both expressed concern that the U.S.-Ukraine crisis could deepen if he rejects the offer. The U.S. official called it a "make-or-break scenario for the Ukrainians".