Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe.

Ukraine is second largest country in Europe, with a total area of about 233088 square miles (603700 sq km). Almost the entire country of Ukraine is a vast flat plain, with elevations generally below 300 m. The Carpathian Mountains are situated at the extreme west, and on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula are the Crimean Mountains. The highest point in Ukraine is Mount Hoverla in the Carpathians, with an elevation of 2061 m.

The climate is temperate continental, with a subtropical Mediterranean climate in the southern portions of the Crimean Peninsula. The average monthly temperature in winter ranges from -8 o C to 2 o C (17.6 o F to 35.6 o F), while summer temperatures average 17 o C to 25 o C (62.6 o F to 77 o F).

The population of Ukraine is approximately 48 million. Ethnic Ukrainians make up 77.8 percent of the population.

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine (nearly 3 million inhabitants).

There is an old legend which tells of three brothers who found Kyiv at the end of the 5th century A.D. The brothers Kyi, Khoryv and Shchek, along with their sister, Lybid, decided to name this newly found land "Kyiv", after their elder brother.

Approximately 85% of the Ukrainian population are Orthodox Christians; 10% are Catholics of the Byzantine rite; 3% are Protestants.

Official language: Ukrainian (Cyrillic alphabet; 22 consonants, 10 vowels, Ukrainian letter "ь").

Ukrainian political system has a popularly-elected President, a unicameral national parliament (Verkhovna Rada), and a Prime Minister, appointed by the President of Ukraine with the consent of the Verkhovna Rada. The Constitution was adopted by Verkhovna Rada on June 28, 1996 (national holiday "Constitution Day").