Ukraine is a country located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Belarus to the north, Russia to the northeast and east, and the Black Sea to the south. It shares borders with several other countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by land area, after Russia, and its capital and largest city is Kyiv.
Historically, Ukraine has been a significant agricultural region, often referred to as the “breadbasket of Europe” due to its fertile soil and large-scale grain production. The population is diverse, with a mix of ethnic groups, primarily Ukrainians, along with significant Russian, Polish, and other minority communities.
Ukraine has a rich cultural history and a strong national identity, which has been shaped by its long history of both independence and domination by neighboring powers, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Soviet Union. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has faced various political and economic challenges, including issues related to governance and territorial integrity, particularly following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and ongoing conflicts in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. The country is currently undergoing significant political transformations and seeks closer integration with Western institutions.