The war in Ukraine, now stretching past its third anniversary, has become a crucible for global power dynamics, extending far beyond the immediate battlefields. At the heart of this evolving conflict lies a resource coveted by superpowers: Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements. Recent reports of a potential deal between the United States and Ukraine, spearheaded by Donald Trump, have ignited a firestorm of speculation, raising critical questions about the future of the war, international alliances, and the very nature of resource control in...