Ukraine is leveraging its substantial mineral resources to foster deeper cooperation with the United States, aiming to attract American investment in its mining and processing sectors. During a meeting on August 12, 2024, between Ukrainian Ministry of Economy officials and a US delegation, First Deputy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev highlighted Ukraine’s significant potential in the critical materials sector, citing the country’s deposits of 22 out of 34 minerals deemed critical by the EU.
Ukraine ranks among the top global producers of several critical minerals, including titanium, zirconium, graphite and manganese. It holds around 5% of the world’s reserves of key raw materials needed for semiconductor and high-tech industries in the US and EU. Notably, Ukraine is the second-largest producer of gallium and fifth in germanium production, following China, Russia, the US, and Japan.
The country’s significant graphite reserves position it among the top five globally, though only one deposit, part of the Zavallia deposit in the Kropyvnytskyi Oblast, is currently in operation. By enhancing cooperation with the US, Ukraine aims to reduce reliance on Chinese sources of these essential minerals and support the green transition and regional security.
