Ukraine minerals agreement was paved with challenges. Those included an unprecedented Oval Office blowout, hundreds of revisions, mutual recriminations and a breakthrough moment on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral.

The agreement on partnership between Ukraine and the USA was ratified in the Verkhovna Rada. This opens the way to the second stage – the coordination of two technical agreements, according to the head of the Servant of the People faction Davyd Arakhamia.

Ukraine's parliament voted on Thursday in favour of ratifying a minerals deal signed with the United States, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure future military assistance from Washington in its fight to repel Russian troops.