These are the reasons why Vladimir Putin does not want to let Ukraine out of his clutches

By: Nina Žoher / Nova24tv

If, in the light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, anyone wonders why Ukraine is so important to Russian President Vladimir Putin and why he wants to regain it under his influence, there is no doubt that some facts about Ukraine’s natural resources need to be known. For example, Ukraine is the first in Europe in terms of proven uranium ore reserves, and the 2^nd in Europe and the 10^th in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves.

Ukraine ranks 2^nd in the world in terms of manganese ore reserves. They have 2.3 billion tons of ore, which represents 12 percent of the world’s reserves. The country also has the 2^nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons) and ranks 2^nd in Europe in terms of mercury reserves.

All this is far from what Ukraine has to offer. Namely, the country ranks 3^rd in Europe (13^th in the world) in terms of shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters), 4^th in the world in terms of the total value of natural resources and 7^th in the world in terms of coal reserves (33.9 billion tons).

It can meet the food needs of 600 million people

However, it is not negligible that Ukraine is also an agricultural country and can meet the food needs of hundreds of millions of people. It is the first in Europe in terms of arable land and the third largest in the world in terms of the area of black soil, which is very fertile. Globally, it has as many as 25 percent of such soil. Ukraine ranks first in the world in terms of sunflower and sunflower oil exports, 2^nd in the world in terms of barley production, and 4^th in terms of barley exports; it is the 3^rd largest producer and 4^th largest exporter of corn in the world, the 4^th largest producer of potatoes in the world, and the 5^th largest producer of rye in the world.

The country ranks 5^th in the world in terms of production of bee products (75 tons), 8^th in the world in terms of wheat exports, 9^th in the world in terms of production of chicken eggs, and 16^th in the world in terms of cheese exports.

The country is highly industrialised

Ukraine is also considered a highly industrialised country. It is the first in Europe in terms of ammonia production, and it has the 2^nd largest European and 4^th largest gas pipeline system in the world (142.5 billion cubic meters of gas flow capacity in the European Union). In terms of the power of nuclear power plants, the country ranks 3^rd in Europe and 8^th in the world in terms of the power of nuclear power plants. Ukraine ranks 3^rd in Europe and 11^th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km), and 3^rd in the world (immediately behind the US and France) in the production of locators and locating equipment.

The country is also considered to be the 3^rd largest exporter of iron in the world, the 4^th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world, and the 4^th largest manufacturer of rocket launchers in the world. It ranks 4^th in the world in terms of clay exports, 4^th in the world in terms of titanium exports, 8^th in the world in terms of exports of ores and concentrates, 9^th in the world in terms of exports of defence industry products. It is also considered the 10^th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).