Ukraine: Portrait of a Nation at the Crossroads of Europe and Russia

What do we know about Ukraine?

As the anniversary of the Chornobyl tragedy draws near, the European reader may ask himself what he knows about the geographical center of Europe – the last neighbor country before Russia, and today a strategic dialogue partner for political, economic, and religious leaders in the East as well as the West.

Ukraine, a country of 603,700 square km in size, inhabited by 47 million people, has undergone number of wars, 2 independences (in 1918 and in 1991), and 1 Orange Revolution (in 2004).

As the holodomor in the 20th century has tragically illustrated, Ukraine has often been a key land in the conflict between East and West.

As the lack of awareness of the very term ‘holodomor' (an artificial famine provoked in Ukraine by the Soviet regime in 1932-1933), Ukraine has often been left in the shadows, a suffering witness of conflicts of interests.

Divided for many centuries, occupied by several European empires and later annexed to the Soviet Union, the battleground of power struggles among nations, Ukraine today is building for itself a democratic future in cooperation with its European neighbors.

Holding on forcefully to its hard-won independence of 1991, Ukraine – a border (‘U') land (‘Kraina') – is today the site of dialogue between East and West.

Formerly Europe's breadbasket, itself frequently starving, Ukraine today has a different kind of bread to offer – this time in freedom, and in the midst of a growing economy (more than 7% of yearly growth in 2007): an example of a developing society that builds itself up through dialogue.

Ukraine, whose name has so often been synonymous with drama and catastrophe, has made its revolution and continues to make it through its efforts to align itself on every level with European standards.

Affirming the rich identity that stems from a troubled history, and today happily looking forward to even greater stability, Ukraine is for Europe not only a neighbor, but a crucial partner.

The geography of this country has long influenced history in a way that made it key in relations between the East and the West.

From the Vikings to the Cossacks to today's reunited people, the Ukrainian nation has offered an example of finding strength in diversity in times of both hardship and victory, from its baptism in 988 and into the 21st century.

The first popular non-violent movement in the 21st century, the Orange Revolution has over the course of 21 days initiated a process of restructuring a country whose future prospects have improved.

Ukraine has demonstrated its ability to win its freedom, affirm its identity, and reconcile differences.

Despite the doomsayers, the borderland has offered the world a history lesson: the differences of yesterday can be overcome in order to build up together a future for tomorrow.