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.

Seven months later, a landmark deal between Ukraine and the Trump administration on Ukraine’s mineral resources was inked. But the road in between was paved with mutual recriminations, a historic Oval Office blowout, “hundreds” of revisions, and finally, a chance meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral.