Revised edition: THE EVENTS IN UKRAINE ON THE CREMEAN PENINSULA IS A WARNING ABOUT THE PUNISHMEN...
THE EVENTS IN Ukraine ON THE Cremean Peninsula IS A WARNING ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT OF GOD COMING TO THE FREE WESTERN WORLD UNLESS it REPENTS! GOD DOESN #39;T WANT ...
By: Geir G Johnsen
Excerpt from:
Ukraine in Crisis - What #39;s going on and why does it matter?
People around the world are alarmed by recent events in the Eastern European country of Ukraine. The crisis in Ukraine is rapidly changing and escalating. Pr...
By: Communist Party USA
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Ukraine in Crisis - What's going on and why does it matter? - Video
Zbarazh Castle: Historical Heritage Site
Located on a hill overlooking the town of Zbarazh near Ternopil in Western Ukraine, Zbarazh Castle is a superb example of historic defensive architecture. Visitors to the castle will find a number of fascinating exhibits deta... read more
Stretching across the border between Romania and Ukraine, the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve lies at the end of the 2,860km Danube River and consists of dozens of lakes, channels and islands. It is the largest wetland and ree... read more
Seven of Ukraine's protected areas are listed with UNESCO as Biosphere Reserves, as they meet the criteria of balancing conservation with sustainable use in line with the organizations Man and the Biosphere Program founded... read more
Well-respected British travel publication, The Rough Guide, has ranked Lviv as number five in its 2014 list of top ten cities in the world that are worth visiting. With its rich culture, ancient history and scenic setting, Lv... read more
Ukraine has a long history of beekeeping and is well known in international apiculture circles for the superb quality of its honey and other bee related products. Ranked as the number one producer in Europe and among the top ... read more
Located at the bustling intersection of Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, Khreshchatyk, Krutyi Descent and Chervonoarmiiska Street in Kiev, Bessarabska Square was a trading post for immigrants from the historical region of Bessarab... read more
Traveling across rugged terrain in heavily laden wagons pulled by two or four oxen, Chumaks are most readily associated with trading in salt, although they transported a variety of goods between Crimea and other regions of Uk... read more
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Ukraine
in Europe(dark grey) [Legend]
Ukraine (i//; Ukrainian: , transliterated: Ukrayina, [ukrjin]) is a country in Eastern Europe.[8] Ukraine borders Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively. It has an area of 603,628km2 (233,062sqmi), making it the largest country entirely within Europe.[9][10][11]
The territory of Ukraine was first inhabited at least 44,000 years ago,[12] with the country being a candidate site for both the domestication of the horse[13][14][15] and for the origins of the Indo-European language family.
In the Middle Ages, the area became a key center of East Slavic culture, as epitomized by the powerful state of Kievan Rus'. Following its fragmentation in the 13th century, Ukraine was contested, ruled and divided by a variety of powers. A Cossack republic emerged and prospered during the 17th and 18th centuries, but Ukraine remained otherwise divided until its consolidation into a Soviet republic in the 20th century, becoming an independent nation-state only in 1991.
Ukraine has long been a global breadbasket due to its extensive, fertile farmlands. As of 2011, it was the world's third-largest grain exporter with that year's harvest being much larger than average.[16] Ukraine is one of ten most attractive agricultural land acquisition regions.[17] Additionally, the country has a well-developed manufacturing sector, particularly in the area of aerospace and industrial equipment.
Ukraine is a unitary state composed of 24 oblasts (provinces), one autonomous republic (Crimea) and two cities with special status: Kiev, its capital and largest city and Sevastopol, which houses the Russian Black Sea Fleet under a leasing agreement. Ukraine is a republic under a semi-presidential system with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine continues to maintain the second-largest military in Europe, after that of Russia, when reserves and paramilitary personnel are taken into account.[18]
The country is home to 44.6 million people,[3] 77.8% of whom are ethnic Ukrainians, with sizable minorities of ethnic Russians (17%), Belarusians, Tatars and Romanians. Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine; its alphabet is Cyrillic. Russian is also widely spoken. The dominant religion in the country is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, which has strongly influenced Ukrainian architecture, literature and music.
The name Ukraine means "borderland".[19] "The Ukraine" was once the usual form in English[20] but since the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine, the English-speaking world has largely stopped using the definite article.[21][22][23]
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More information about Ukraine is available on the Ukraine Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-UKRAINE RELATIONS
The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine's transition to a democratic state with a flourishing market economy. U.S. policy is centered on realizing and strengthening a democratic, prosperous, and secure Ukraine more closely integrated into Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures. The U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership highlights the importance of the bilateral relationship and outlines enhanced cooperation in the areas of defense, security, economics and trade, energy security, democracy, and cultural exchanges. It also emphasizes the continued commitment of the United States to support enhanced engagement between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Ukraine. To fulfill one of the key tenets of the charter, the two countries have established the Strategic Partnership Commission.
U.S. Assistance to Ukraine
U.S. Government assistance to Ukraine aims to support the development of a democratic, prosperous, and secure Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. A fact sheet on U.S. assistance to Ukraine can be found here.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The United States has granted Ukraine market economy status and terminated the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine, giving Ukraine permanent normal trade relations status. The United States and Ukraine have a bilateral investment treaty. U.S. exports to Ukraine include coal, machinery, vehicles, agricultural products, fish and seafood, and aircraft. U.S. imports from Ukraine include iron and steel, inorganic chemicals, oil, iron and steel products, aircraft, and agricultural products. The U.S.-Ukraine Council on Trade and Investment was established under the countries' agreement on trade and investment cooperation and works to increase commercial and investment opportunities by identifying and removing impediments to bilateral trade and investment flows.
Ukraine's Membership in International Organizations
Ukraine and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Ukraine also is an observer to the Organization of American States. Ukraine has adopted a non-bloc foreign policy, including abandonment of its formal bid for NATO membership.
Bilateral Representation
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