Subject: Re: Ukraine minerals deal signed
The Ukraine provided 7% of the world's titanium in 2019. That's kind of an important element.
But don't take that from me.

https://rmis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/...

Titanium metal is widely used in the aerospace industry because of its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance
and thermal stability. Titanium is also essential in the defence sector and critical infrastructures such as the chemical industry
and power generation. Titanium is traded at different stages of processing. Wrought titanium, e.g. mill products, is the
principal form in which titanium metal is marketed. Titanium was added to the EC’s list of Critical Raw Materials in 2020.


Where do the Euros get their titanium?
At present, titanium remains exempt from restrictions on
trade with Russia. Direct sanctions on imports of titanium
and titanium products after Russia's invasion of Ukraine are
not imposed so far (June 2022) by the EU, nor has an export
embargo been imposed by Russia as a retaliation to western
sanctions.

Yet another instance of the Europeans talking tough but writing Putin checks.