Ukraine

[maggiebee]

For those who ask: “Why does Ukraine matter? “
This is why Ukraine matters.

It is the second largest country by area in Europe by area and has a population
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).

Ukraine matters. That is why its independence is important to the rest of the world.

[Sqad]

Blimey maggie....I take my hat off to you....how did you remember those facts?

Impressed.

[maggiebee]

Ah sqad, if only. I do have a friend who keeps his finger on the pulse though.

[Hopkirk]

It matters for the same reason as Czechoslovakia mattered in 1939

[bobbinwales]

We know its important. No need for a list unless youve been asked on Facebook to pass it on.
Whose saying it isnt important.
Maybe you could produce something similar about England, Wales & NI

[Gromit]

Before the fall ofte USSR, it was often referred to as “Russia’s bread basket” because of ts fertile lands.

[douglas9401]

Viewers in Scotland have their own programmes I suppose.

[maggiebee]

Bobbi - no, nobody has asked me to pass it on! Why would you say that?

[ToraToraTora]

//For those who ask: “Why does Ukraine matter? “ // - who asked?

[ToraToraTora]

douglas: "Viewers in Scotland have their own programmes I suppose" - they have their own channel, Sky Braveheart!

[douglas9401]

Ooh, topical Tora.

[ichkeria]

That is why it matters to Russia

It's not the reason it matters to the people who live there, nor its true friends abroad.

[Hopkirk]

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain speaks about his efforts to obtain a peaceful solution to the Sudeten dispute, which he refers to as a "quarrel in a far away country, between people of whom we know nothing

[bobbinwales]

I know douglas, its just something that could be asked of those who think Scotland will be better off on its own.

[douglas9401]

I see, makes perfect sense now.

[ichkeria]

Well of course Boris Johnson made a point earlier of emphasising that this is NOT a faraway country of which we know nothing

[TheChair]

No mention of the Ukrainian people in that list.
I guess it matters in the same way that all those states invaded by the US matter.

[Zacs-Master]

Here is the truth behind the original Facebook post
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/why-does-ukraine-matter/

[gness]

Snopes. Interesting reading, thanks, Zacs.

[Arksided]

TBH I didn't know most of that stuff, or would've seen it on FB.

[youngmafbog]

So what do you propose then Maggie? All out war?