A United States delegation has visited central Ukraine to assess titanium, zirconium, and hafnium mining opportunities, marking the first steps in a new minerals agreement between Kyiv and Washington.
Representatives from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), accompanied by Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, toured the Birzulivskiy mining and processing complex and the Likarivske deposit in the Kirovohrad region. Both sites are operated by Ukrainian titanium producer Velta, which has mined in the area for more than 14 years.
Velta’s expansion plans include producing zircon and hafnium—metals essential to the nuclear industry—in addition to titanium, while also generating by-products such as clay and sand for construction. “Our ability to provide an alternative source of critical raw materials outside of China is important to our American partners, while our additional products will be essential for the reconstruction of Ukraine,” said Velta director Andriy Brodsky.
Titanium is one of the 34 critical raw materials on the European Union’s list, with applications across defense, aerospace, and technology sectors. Its global market value is forecast to exceed $53 billion by 2034, with demand rising amid supply disruptions caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. Before the conflict, Russia supplied nearly one-third of US titanium by-products, a gap Washington now seeks to fill through new partnerships.
The April 30 minerals agreement grants the US preferential access to Ukrainian investment projects spanning natural resources, infrastructure, and defense programs. The site visits by the DFC and Ukrainian officials mark an early move to accelerate joint ventures under this framework.
