For those who ask: "Why does Ukraine matter?"
Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world
Naturally the people of Ukraine are incredibly important; but here is why the Country of Ukraine matters:
- It is the second largest country by area in Europe and has a population with of over 40 million. More than Poland.
Ukraine ranks:
- 1st in Europe in proven recoverable reserves of uranium ores;
- 2nd place in Europe and 10th place in the world in terms of titanium ore reserves;
- 2nd place in the world in terms of explored reserves of manganese ores (2.3 billion tons, or 12% of the world's reserves);
- 2nd largest iron ore reserves in the world (30 billion tons);
- 2nd place in Europe in terms of mercury ore reserves;
- 3rd place in Europe (13th place in the world) in shale gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
- 4th in the world by 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 black soil (25% of world's volume);
-1st place in the world in exports of sunflower and sunflower oil;
- 2nd place in the world in barley production and 4th place in barley exports;
- 3rd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of corn in the world;
- 4th largest producer of potatoes in the world;
- 5th largest rye producer in the world;
- 5th place in the world in bee 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 is an important industrialised country:
- 1st in Europe in ammonia production;
- Europe's 2nd’s and the world’s 4th largest natural gas pipeline system;
- 3rd largest in Europe and 8th largest in the world in terms of installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
- 3rd place in Europe and 11th in the world in terms of rail network length (21,700 km);
- 3rd place in the world (after the U.S. and France) in production of locators and locating equipment;
- 3rd largest iron exporter in the world
- 4th largest exporter of turbines for nuclear power plants in the world;
- 4th world's 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 exports of ores and concentrates;
- 9th place in the world in exports of defence industry products;
- 10th largest steel producer in the world (32.4 million tons).