The Ukraine war is far from over—peace talks stall, fighting rages on, and yet Kyiv has launched an auction for one of Europe’s biggest lithium deposits. The Dobra site could reshape supply chains and cut China out of the minerals market, but it’s also tied to a controversial Trump-era deal. At the same time, Europe’s leaders are rallying in Moldova, where elections, Russian meddling, and the breakaway region of Transnistria threaten to destabilize the region. Palki Sharma connects the dots.