Ukraine - new neighbour and friend

 

What do the people abroad hear of Ukraine? - very little, if anything.

Ukraine is EU’s eastern neighbour, some 2000km away from Ireland. The capital city, Kiev, is as close to Dublin as Palermo in Sicily. The country is adjacent to Poland. Ukraine is a country of richness and diversity. An emerging economy, which is similar in size to France and has population of 48 million, Ukraine has been booming in the last few years. Comprising 24 regions, Ukraine is largely a rural society, with some 60% living in the country-side. This said, almost 16 million live in the cities.

A country of diverse countryside, which ranges from big open landscapes of rich soils to high mountains and the placid, warm Black Sea. The cities vary greatly. Kiev is a modern vibrant city of some 3 million people; Lviv is a spellbinding world heritage city unknown to most western travellers, while Poltava is a city of elegance.

Ukraine is a highly developed society. It generated 25% of the whole output of the former Soviet Union and ranked below Russia in total output, 4 times higher than its next ranking country at a time when Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany were in the Union.

In the last four years radical change has occurred. A pro EU government with positive attitudes approved both EU and WTO accession as two key targets. Ukraine is in WTO now. According to the government's resolution, Ukraine has a "clear European perspective" that comes complete with "the possibility that Ukraine will enter the EU".
Ukraine is a very high tech country; its highly qualified personnel in the medical, aeronautical, pharmaceutical, space research and IT are sought after across the world. Both the US and Germany have special employment and visa packages for highly skilled Ukraine nationals. The Ukraine government supports the development of the high tech sector; the young generation achieves a very high level of the educational attainment.

Ukraine is a country rich in holiday experiences, both historical and cultural, including visits to the venue for the Yalta Conference, the Poltava battle field, Massandra Vineyards, Sorochinska Fair in Poltava region, innumerable museums, galleries, monasteries and events.

Social life centralizes around excellent restaurants, some of which are national in identity and have traditional musicians and dancers. It should be remembered that food quality is generally very high, the vines of Massandra are exceptional and Vodka is at the world class.

Ukraine is a country of 2012 football championship.