After days of tense relations and verbal sparring, the White House is pushing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals as payback for billions spent on wartime aid.

White House officials have urged Ukraine to stop criticizing Donald Trump and to sign a deal granting the U.S. half of Ukraine's mineral resources. Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor, suggested to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he tone down his criticism and accept an agreement that would provide the U.