China said on Saturday it was willing to accelerate the examination and approval of rare earth exports to European Union firms.

But halting progress, ever-more deadly drone attacks and unmoving negotiating positions seem to have taken their toll. On Thursday, Trump used a striking analogy to concede the warfare was nowhere near over, and that he did not, at that moment, feel it was best to intervene.

President Donald Trump, after repeatedly promising to quickly end Russia's war on Ukraine, has changed his tune and his attitude dramatically.