Total Area: - 232,000 sq. miles (a little larger than France)

Capital: - Kyiv (pop. 2.6 million)

President: - Leonid Kuchma (1994-present)

Language: - Ukrainian

Bordering Countries: - Poland, Belarus, Russia, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia

Flag: - two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and yellow (bottom) representing wheat fields under a blue sky

National Anthem: - Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrayeena (Ukraine Has Not Perished)

National Emblem: - the Tryzub (Trident)

National Holiday: - Independence Day, August 24th

Religion: - Orthodox - 88.5%, Byzantine-rite Catholics - 10.4%, Others - 1.1%

Main River: - Dnipro - 3rd largest river in Europe

Climate: - generally continental with cold winters and warm, dry summers

Natural Resources: - primarily coal, iron, oil and natural gas. By far, Ukraine's greatest resource is its rich and fertile soil, which had once made Ukraine the principle supplier of bread to all of Europe, a role for which it had come to be known as "The Breadbasket of Europe"

Independent Ukraine's Chronicle:

Act of Proclamation of Ukraine's Independence
Considering the deadly threat to Ukraine, in conjunction with the coup d'etat in the USSR, on August 19, 1991
-Continuing the age-old tradition of state construction in Ukraine,
-Proceeding from the right to self-determination, provided for by the UN Charter, and by other international legal documents,
-Acting in pursuance of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic hereby solemnly PROCLAIMS INDEPENDENCE OF UKRAINE, and the creation of an independent Ukrainian state, UKRAINE.
The territory of Ukraine shall be indivisible and inviolable.
Henceforth only the Constitution of Ukraine and laws of Ukraine shall have legal strength in the territory of Ukraine.
This act shall become effective instantly following its approval.
August 24, 1991-VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE

June 16, 1990, the Verhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the Declaration of the State Sovereignty of Ukraine

August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian Parliament solemnly proclaimed Ukraine's independence and the formation of the independent state of Ukraine, proceeding from the right to self-determination, provided for by the UN Charter and other international documents, acting in pursuance of Sovereignty Declaration

December 1, 1991, a referendum took place in Ukraine, involving 84.9% of the citizens, of which number 90.3% seconded the Independence Act of August 24th Winning 61.6 % of the votes, Leonid Kravchuk was elected President of Ukraine

December 7-8, 1991, at a summit meeting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the heads of the states of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine signed a Treaty on the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), thus putting an end to the U.S.S.R.

Parliamentary and Presidential elections were held in 1994. Leonid Kuchma became the new President, winning 52.2% of the votes in the second round.

Presidential elections were held in 1999. President Leonid Kuchma was elected to a second term.

Ukraine's Foreign Political Chronicle:

Beginning in 1991, the independent Ukrainian state was recognized by 152 countries. Diplomatic relations were established with 138 states. 54 embassies, 6 representations of international organizations were accredited in Ukraine.

1992-Ukraine becomes a member of the European Conference on Security and Cooperation

1992-Ukraine joins the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

1992-Ukraine is one of the founding members of the Organization for Black Sea Economic Cooperation

1992-Ukraine joins the Working Group of the North Atlantic Council

1993-Ukraine becomes a member of the council

1994-on Us President Clinton's initiative, Ukraine joins NATO's Partnership for Peace Program

1994-Verkhovna Rada ratifies the Treaty reducing offensive strategic weapons

1994-signing in Luxembourg of the Agreement on Partnership with the European Union