It’s to signal low value concessions in the public that Putin can use to accept a deal without looking weak in front of his people. This whole game is to bring each side to a point where they would say yes to a resolution. That won’t happen if either side doesn’t do it in a way their voters would accept.

Zelensky said he would accept the mineral deal to get additional support, but insisted on coming to the White House to sign it, even though the administration wanted to get it done sooner (as Rubio revealed in his interview). A part of me does wonder if that White House press conference was all theater to show Putin a false “tough on Zelensky” front, or if it was a genuine continuation of Biden’s frustration with Zelensky.