Recognition of Ukraine's Independence

Date: December 2, 1991 • Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union.

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the north; Poland and Slovakia to the west; Hungary, Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov to the south and southeast. Kyiv is Ukraine's capital and largest city, followed by Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. The official language is Ukrainian. Ukraine covers about 603,628 km2 (230,000 sq mi), with around 32 million people.