Battle for Ukrainian titanium. What resources is important to get

In the last year, the international support of Ukraine has inextricably linked the United States and their allies with the fate of Kiev. It seems that the second invasion of President Vladimir Putin has motivated Ukraine even more with the Euro -Atlantic community, confirming Kiev ambitions on EU and NATO membership. Focus translated David Brennan's article about the importance of Ukrainian fossils.

Currently, the US and allied states are making every effort to identify, develop and use huge reserves of most important metal in Ukraine, which is crucial for the advanced military technologies of the West, which will become the basis of future restraint of Russia and China. Titanium is a light but durable metal that is widely used in the production of military equipment such as fighters, helicopters, sea vessels, tanks, a distant radius missile and more.

If Ukraine wins, the United States and their allies will be in a favorable position to build a new titanium supply channel. But if Russia manages to capture titanium deposits and factories in Ukraine, Moscow will strengthen its global influence at the expense of strategic resource. The US Department of Internal Affairs classified Titan as one of 35 minerals vital to the economy and national security.

However, the United States still import more than 90% of its iron ore, and not all come from friendly countries. The United States no longer store a titanium sponge (the primary technical product of industrial titanium production - ed. ) Ukraine is one of the seven countries that produce a titanium sponge - the basis for titanium metal. China and Russia - the most significant strategic rivals of America - are also included in this group.

According to the US geological service, last year China produced more than 231 thousand tons of titanium sponge, which is 57% of world production. The following are Japan with 17% and Russia with 13%. Kazakhstan produced almost 18 thousand tons, and Ukraine - more than 4 thousand tons.

The use of energy resources by Moscow as a blackmail tool caused in Washington and other capitals of NATO countries that the Kremlin can freeze the exports of titanium one day by putting aerospace and defense companies in a difficult situation. The dependence of the West on Russian Titan means that this metal has not yet fallen under sanctions by the US, the EU and their allies.

The Boeing Aerospace Giant retains its joint venture with the Russian "UKMPO-ABISMA"-the world's largest titanium exporter in the world, although after the invasion of Ukraine has frozen its orders. Other companies, such as Airbus European Corporation, continue to receive titanium from the SMPO. A source familiar with the American defense industry that did not want to name its name because the employer did not allow him to speak publicly, Newsweek reported that Titan is "a key vulnerability.

" "It is about our ability to produce more aircraft, about our ability to produce ammunition. It all depends on titanium, and we have made dependence on foreign suppliers. Previously, Russia was one of these major suppliers. " National security experts and defenders of Ukraine in Washington are increasingly urging politicians to pay attention to the East.

In last year's budget project, the State Department was ordered to study "the possibility of using titanium sources from Ukraine as a potential alternative to Chinese and Russian sources. " "Ukraine has really significant reserves of rare earth minerals, and if we play our maps correctly, it can be a truly attractive alternative to Russian and Chinese sources that now depends a lot," said Newsweek one of the Congress staff, who also asked for anonymous Since it is not entitled to speak publicly.

- Since the West is increasingly discussing the question of why in our interests to continue to support Ukraine, I think it is one of the arguments that you will start to hear more and more. " Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies have already expressed many reasons for the invasion. The seizure of Ukraine's titanium sponge does not belong to the Kremlin's public goals, but it would become a good for Moscow.

Titanium minerals in Russia are relatively small, and in 2021 Ukraine was actually the main source of Titan's imports, according to the US Geological Service. Most of the fighting unfolded in the east and south of Ukraine, where mineral resources are concentrated on trillions of dollars. In the first months of the invasion, Russian troops captured at least two areas of titanium ores.

Even before the February attack, Moscow expected vital titanium resources through its corrupt network of oligarchs, officials and scouts in Ukraine. Magnate Dmitry Firtash, who now lives in exile in Austria, was forced to sell 49% of the Zaporizhzhya Titanic-Magnesium Combine in 2021-the only Titan sponge production plant in Europe-after he was accused of selling Titan for military needs. In January 2022, Firtash sold the Crimean titanium plant to the Russian firm "Titan".

Andriy Brodsky, CEO of the Ukrainian Volta Titanium Production Company, said Newsweek that this metal is vital for the current attack of Russia. "In rockets that fly to Ukraine almost daily, the titanium content is very high," he explained. According to him, Moscow may encounter a "significant lack of modern high -precision weapons", unless new Titan supplies can be provided.

Access to Ukrainian titanium will help the United States in their conflict with China, which, according to politicians, will expect us in the 21st century. According to Newsweek a source familiar with the defensive industry, Titan is needed to create a weapon that will help restrain Beijing. "I think the Chinese, unfortunately, are very well aware of the US defense base and its vulnerable places," he said.

According to Congress, the propaganda efforts in Washington are gaining momentum and, as far as it can be judged with conversations with legislators, the process has shifted from a dead point. "This is undoubtedly important a niche that is given less attention than Ukraine's urgent military needs, but we intend to focus on it. " According to the source in the defensive industry, a direct participation of the White House may be needed to accelerate the process.

"Nothing is so concentrating as a crisis and I think it is a favorite method of US action. " "Conversations at the grassroots level can not leak at higher level . They know that they need to pay attention to the Ukrainian source. I do not think that they have received a signal of such a need from the highest level - for example, from the Minister of Defense, the Secretary of State or the White House.

" Ukraine is waiting for difficult work to restore the country and attract Western investors, as it seeks to join the Euro -Atlantic community. The estimated recovery costs reach $ 1 trillion; This figure was called President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Kyiv hopes that its titanium industry will become one of the basics for attracting foreign investment and political protection that comes with them.

"Today we have titanium and are lithium, both of these metals are in great demand and will be even more in demand in the future," said Newsweek Oleg Ustenko, Economic Advisor to Zelensky. - As far as I understand, most of these deposits are not even developed. This sector is really enormous. This is important in terms of increasing the stability of the world system and the global supply of these resources. We see our role not only within the EU but also at the world level of world supplies.

I think it is a really important role that Ukraine can play . But again, we need to be in the post -war conditions. " Stephen Blank, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Foreign Policy and Former Professor of Russia's Research at the US Army Military College, said Newsweek that Ukraine can start supplying a considerable number of titanium to the West within a few months after the war, if it did not happen.

"They will have to rebuild the whole country from above, which, if you think, is a great opportunity for investors," the Blank added. According to him, the potential will need to support governments in Kiev and Washington: "The state will also play a big role . . . Signals from governments will be needed to invest safely. " If Kyiv supports, "we will see a huge jump forward. " Destroyed by war and many years of corruption, the titanium industry of Ukraine desperately needs investment.

According to Brodsky, Velta is included in the list of companies looking for "strategic partners" for the construction of new factories both in Ukraine and abroad. Velta is already working on a new enterprise in the Czech Republic to launch its technological process Velta Ti Process, which, according to the company, allows to produce metal titanium metal powder with lower costs and much less harm to the environment.

According to Brodsky, foreign investors show "great interest" and the company hopes that the Czech plant will be launched by the fall, proving that Velta powder can be used for pressing, stamping or 3D printing of aerospace parts. Similar enterprises can be built in the US. "It is obvious to everyone that the US should be sure of the reliability of titanium supplies and control something in a friendly territory.

It can be both Ukraine and the United States, and Ukraine will provide technology," Brodsky added. "It probably requires some investment and serious attention on our part," says Congress employee. " David Brennan is a Newsweek diplomatic correspondent that highlights world policy and current events from London. Before coming to Newsweek, in early 2018 he covered British politics and global current events as a full -time correspondent at the International Business Times.