"Russia's Exploitation of Ukraine's Natural Resources Sparks Concern"

Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories has resulted in the plundering of Ukraine's natural resources, including iron ore, coal, titanium, manganese, gold, natural gas, oil, kaolin, salt, gypsum, zirconium, uranium, and lithium. The seizure of these strategically important resources has had a devastating impact on Ukraine's economy, with steel production and exports plummeting. Russia's motive for seizing these resources is to weaken Ukraine's economic potential and gain control over global resources, as well as counter the EU and NATO. The European Union had established a strategic resource partnership with Ukraine, recognizing its potential as a key supplier of natural resources for the EU's green energy transformation.