The ostensible reason for “punishing” Russia with sanctions that actually pummel the west was Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Now we all know that Ukraine was/is the poorest nation in Europe. Right? Ukraine is one of the worst off countries after the collapse of the USSR. It is the poorest country in Europe despite having a huge aerospace industry, natural resources and some of the most fertile land for agriculture. During the communist era, Ukraine was the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. Despite all this, Ukrainians have experienced terrible famines such as the Stalinist Holodomor. Today, the situation is not much better. Apart from enduring a war with Russia, its political system is particularly corrupt. Almost the entire economy is in the hands of big oligarchs: millionaires who amass fortunes thanks to their connections with political power.
Some critical facts about Ukraine and its economic potential.
When you consider these facts you will likely wonder why Ukraine is not one of the richest nations in Europe.
UKRAINE IS:
- 1st in Europe in proven recoverable uranium ore reserves;
- 2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in titanium ore reserves;
- 2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of world reserves);
- The 2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
- 2nd place in Europe in mercury ore reserves;
- 3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in terms of shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
- 4th place in the world in terms of the total value of natural resources;
- 7th place in the world in coal reserves (33.9 billion tons)
Ukraine is an important agricultural country:
- 1st in Europe in terms of arable land area;
- 3rd place in the world by the area of chernozem (25% of the world volume);
- 1st place in the world in the export of sunflower and sunflower oil;
- 2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley export;
- 3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;
- The 4th largest potato producer in the world;
- The 5th largest rye producer in the world;
- 5th place in the world for honey production (75,000 tons);
- 8th place in the world in wheat exports;
- 9th place in the world in the production of chicken eggs;
- 16th place in the world in cheese exports.
Ukraine can meet the food needs of 600 million people.
- Ukraine was an important industrially developed country:
- 1st in Europe in ammonia production;
- The 2nd and 4th largest natural gas pipeline systems in the world;
- 3rd largest in Europe and 8th in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
- 3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of the length of the railway network (21,700 km);
- 3rd place in the world (after the USA and France) in the production of locators and navigation equipment;
- 3rd largest iron exporter in the world;
- The 4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
- The world’s 4th largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;
- 4th place in the world in clay exports;
- 4th place in the world in titanium exports;
- 8th place in the world in the export of ores and concentrates;
- 9th place in the world in the export of defense industry products;
- The 10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).
…there are no stashes of alternative supplies in other countries capable of replacing what Russia and Ukraine mine and harvest. This is why the United States and Europe are desperate to weaken Russia. The writing is on the wall for all to read.