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Since regaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine has established and strengthened a variety of bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries on both a regional and a global scale. While striving to maintain good relations with Russia, its largest neighbour, Ukraine’s leaders have stressed that, as a geographically European country, Ukraine aims to become integrated into European political and economic structures. Outside Europe, Ukraine has been particularly active in fostering relations with the USA. Diplomatic relations have been established with around 140 countries.
Ukraine has been a member of the United Nations Organisation, initially as the Ukrainian SSR, since its founding in 1945. The UkrSSR also joined various UN bodies and specialised agencies, such as the UN Economic and Social Council, the International Telecommunication Union, the World Health Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency, UNESCO and others. Today, independent Ukraine continues to participate in these and other UN bodies.
In 1992 Ukraine joined the Council for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) – transformed in 1994 into the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In 1995 the country was accepted into the Council of Europe and, in the following year, into the Central European Initiative. In 1992 Ukraine was one of the founder members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation organisation, involving 11 states surrounding the Black Sea. It is also a key player in the GUAM Group, involving Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Ukraine is a founder member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which, in some respects, replaced the Soviet Union, but has tended to limit its participation in this body to certain aspects of economic co-operation with other ex-Soviet states.
On 16 May 2008 Ukraine is due to become a member of the World Trade Organisation. In the longer term Ukraine aspires to join the European Union and NATO, and has entered into co-operation agreements with both organisations.
Embassy of Ukraine in the UK