| Region | Eastern Europe |
| Capital | |
| Country | |
| Culture | Diverse, shaped by Polish, Austrian, and other European influences |
| Economy | Industrialized, integrated with Western Europe |
| History | Originated as center of medieval Kievan Rus', later influenced by Poland-Lithuania and Austro-Hungarian Empire, gained independence in early 20th century |
| Government | Democratic republic |
Ukraine is a sovereign state in Eastern Europe. Sharing borders with Poland, Belarus, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Russia, it is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia. Ukraine has a population of over 44 million people and an area of 233,031 square miles (603,550 square kilometers), making it the 45th largest country in the world. The capital and largest city is Kyiv.
Ukraine has a long and complex history. The medieval Kievan Rus' state, centered in the city of Kyiv, was one of the largest and most powerful polities in Eastern Europe in the 11th-13th centuries. After its decline, much of present-day Ukraine came under the control of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 14th-16th centuries.
In the late 18th century, the western regions of Ukraine were incorporated into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while eastern Ukraine remained under Polish and then Russian imperial rule. Ukraine briefly gained independence as the Ukrainian People's Republic in 1917-1920 during the collapse of the Russian Empire, but was soon reconquered by the Bolsheviks and made a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.
After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine re-emerged as an independent state. It has maintained its sovereignty and democratic political system since, balancing relations between Russia and the European Union.
Ukraine is a geographically diverse country, consisting of the fertile Black Sea coastal lowlands, the Carpathian Mountains in the west, and the Donbas industrial region in the east. Major cities include the capital Kyiv, as well as Kharkiv, Odesa, Lviv, and Dnipro.
Ethnically, Ukrainians make up about 77% of the population, with sizable minorities of Poles, Hungarians, Romanians, Russians, and other groups. The national language is a Slavic language closely related to Polish and Belarusian, though Russian is also widely spoken, especially in the east.
Ukraine is a unitary semi-presidential republic with a democratically elected president and parliament. The political system is dominated by pro-Western, pro-EU parties that seek to move Ukraine closer to European economic and political integration. Relations with Russia are often tense, though Ukraine has generally avoided the authoritarian political trends seen in its neighbor.
The country is administratively divided into 24 oblasts (regions) and the capital city of Kyiv, which has a special administrative status. Local governments have a significant degree of autonomy in Ukraine's decentralized system.
Ukraine has a prosperous, industrialized economy with a GDP per capita of around $15,000. Key sectors include agriculture, manufacturing, energy, IT, and financial services. Major exports include machinery, chemicals, metals, agricultural products, and energy resources like coal and natural gas. Ukraine's economy is well integrated with the European Union, of which it is an associate member.
Ukraine's culture reflects its position between Western and Eastern Europe, blending Slavic, Latin, and Germanic influences. The country is home to a rich heritage in architecture, music, literature, and the visual arts. Eastern Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion, though there are also sizable Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish communities.
Ukrainian cuisine features dishes like borscht, varenyky, and salo, and is known for its use of fresh seasonal ingredients. Traditional Ukrainian folk music and dance remain popular alongside a thriving modern entertainment industry.
