The Economic Security Council of Ukraine, a Kyiv-based think tank, has called on the EU to impose restrictions on critical mineral imports from Russia, saying these resources underpin Moscow's capacity to produce weapons. In a report, the group said Russia imported more than US$1.1 billion worth of strategic minerals over a one-year period for military-related purposes, including alumina, tantalum and molybdenum. It also identified beryllium, tungsten, manganese, niobium, rhenium and titanium as inputs needed by Russia's defense industry.
The report found that many of these commodities ultimately flow into the supply chains of dozens of Russian enterprises involved in manufacturing missile systems, aircraft, armored vehicles, ammunition, electronics and engines. The EU has so far not imposed restrictions on these exports, according to the report. However, such measures require unanimous agreement among all 27 EU member states, and approval has become increasingly difficult as various countries push to dilute proposals or secure exemptions for their domestic industries.