According to the NYT, Ukraine has postponed signing a minerals deal with the US, and the agreement will likely be signed only after US President-Elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, allowing him, not Joe Biden, to announce it after taking office and present it as his victory.
Ukrainian officials and businesspeople have tried to appeal to Trump’s pragmatic nature and emphasize that Ukraine is rich in natural resources that can support American industries that Trump wants to develop.
Ukraine has deposits of 20 of the most essential minerals, such as cobalt and graphite, with reserves valued at an estimated $11.5T. Ukraine also has 33% of Europe’s proven lithium reserves, a key battery production material that could be of interest to electric vehicle producer Elon Musk, Trump’s ally.