The Soviet Union’s dissolution ushered in a new age of independence for Ukraine. The country’s first president, Leonid Kravchuk, declared the country independent, and its hryvnia was introduced as a new currency. In 1996, it adopted a new constitution, a document that has been accused of election rigging and poisoning. During the subsequent years, Ukraine has experienced a series of coups and attempted coups, with President Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition party’s Yuschencko being suspected of both.

The Kievan Rus’ controlled the southern part of the Ukraine, but this control never extended to the Turkic tribes to the east. During the Polish-Lithuanian period, the Wild Fields became a no-man’s land. The Zaporizhian Cossacks, a group of settlers from present-day Russia, established a degree of control over the area, which gradually became a part of the Russian Empire.

Humans have settled in Ukraine for thousands of years. Archaeologists believe that humans were using stone tools in the country as early as 30,000 B.C. Later, long-term settlers from the ancient Persian and Greek cultures arrived. Around the sixth century B.C., the ancient Greeks and Romans settled in Ukraine, trading wine and silver on the Black Sea coast. Later, the Slavs colonized much of the country and joined forces with the Varangians to create Kyivan Rus, the largest empire in Europe at the time.

The traditional Ukrainian diet includes meat, grains, and potatoes, and fresh vegetables. In addition to meat, boiled potatoes and pickled vegetables are popular traditional dishes. The country has many famous dishes made from traditional Ukrainian foods, including varenyky, nalysnyky, and borscht. Breads are also widely popular, including the paska Easter bread. You can also sample traditional Ukrainian cuisine at local restaurants. If you are interested in visiting Ukraine, consider a visit.

Despite the political turmoil in Ukraine, many in Kyiv are optimistic that the U.S. presidential election results will restore stability in the region. The election of Donald Trump in the United States has shocked many in the Ukrainian capital, who had been following the presidential candidate. While Donald Trump has expressed an interest in improving relations with Russia, he has also suggested that the United States might consider lifting sanctions against Russia and recognizing Crimea’s illegal annexation.

The Ukrainian national movement had been suppressed during the Soviet period, but gained strength after the Holodomor, a devastating famine in the 1930s caused by the agricultural policies of Stalin. The Soviet Union took control of Ukrainian farms, and millions of people died from starvation. During the Soviet era, Ukraine was occupied by Germany. During World War II, German forces invaded the country, enslaving millions of Ukrainians and executing hundreds of thousands of Jewish people. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was granted independence.

As the conflict escalates, more refugees are arriving. More than thirteen million people have left the country – the majority of them are in neighboring countries – with a further eight million internally displaced inside the country. Some of the refugees have returned to Kyiv, others have fled to other EU countries, such as Poland and Hungary. Many have even traveled to Russia from pro-Russian regions. This humanitarian crisis requires international support to help those in need.